Former BioWare developers have criticized EA's assessment of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's underperformance and subsequent restructuring of BioWare. EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the game's failure to a lack of broad appeal, specifically citing a need for "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives. This suggests EA believes adding multiplayer elements would have boosted sales.

However, this interpretation clashes with the game's development history. As previously reported by IGN, The Veilguard underwent a significant development reboot, shifting from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG at EA's behest. This contradicts Wilson's suggestion that a lack of multiplayer features was the primary cause of its underperformance.

Former BioWare narrative lead David Gaider, now at Summerfall Studios, argued that EA's conclusion is short-sighted and self-serving. He suggested EA should learn from Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, a predominantly single-player RPG with optional multiplayer, and focus on strengthening Dragon Age's core strengths.

Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age and now at Yellow Brick Games, expressed even stronger dissent, stating he would resign if pressured to fundamentally alter a successful single-player IP into a purely multiplayer experience. His comments highlight the potential disconnect between EA's strategic vision and the creative vision of developers who built the Dragon Age franchise.

The restructuring of BioWare, resulting in significant layoffs and a focus solely on Mass Effect 5, effectively signals the apparent end of the Dragon Age franchise, at least for the foreseeable future. EA CFO Stuart Canfield acknowledged the changing industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects, implicitly justifying the decision to reallocate resources away from Dragon Age.