EA's 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 following the game's disappointing sales figures. EA reported only 1.5 million players, significantly below projections.

IGN previously documented The Veilguard's troubled development, marked by layoffs and the departure of key personnel. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff viewed the game's completion as a feat given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Wilson, in an investor call, suggested future RPGs require "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives to broaden appeal. He acknowledged the game's high-quality launch and positive reviews, but emphasized its limited audience reach in a competitive market. This perspective is questioned, given EA's prior support for BioWare's significant overhaul of the Dragon Age franchise, transforming it from a planned multiplayer game into a single-player RPG. The success of recent single-player titles like Baldur's Gate 3 further challenges Wilson's assertion.

The future of the Dragon Age franchise appears uncertain. EA CFO Stuart Canfield linked BioWare's restructuring, significantly downsizing the studio, to a shift towards focusing on Mass Effect 5's development. He highlighted the changing industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects. This decision underscores EA's reliance on live-service games, which constitute 74% of their revenue in the past year, driven largely by Ultimate Team and contributions from titles like Apex Legends and The Sims. Future EA titles like Skate and the next Battlefield are also expected to incorporate live-service elements.