EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributes the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to connect with a wider audience. Last week's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, saw personnel shifts from the Dragon Age team to other EA studios.

EA's financial report revealed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, despite a reported 1.5 million players, significantly missed projected engagement numbers, falling nearly 50% short. IGN previously documented various development hurdles faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported that BioWare staff considered the game's completion a feat given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Wilson, in an investor call, suggested that future role-playing games require "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives to expand beyond the core fanbase. He acknowledged the game's high-quality launch and positive reviews but emphasized its limited audience reach in a competitive market. This statement implies that incorporating shared-world elements and increased engagement could have boosted sales, a perspective that clashes with EA's prior decision to drastically restructure the Dragon Age development, shifting it from a live-service model to a single-player experience.

Fan reaction suggests EA has misjudged the lessons from Dragon Age: The Veilguard's failure, highlighting the recent success of single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3. The future of Dragon Age remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield linked BioWare's restructuring, including significant staff reductions, to a shift in focus towards Mass Effect 5. He cited the evolving industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects. It's important to note that single-player games contribute minimally to EA's overall revenue, with live-service titles (74% of revenue in the past year) – including Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims – driving the majority of profits. Upcoming titles like Skate and the next Battlefield are also expected to follow the live-service model.