Ex-Dragon Age Writer Weighs In on Proposed Live-Service Model for Veilguard

The creative director behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard has expressed strong disapproval of EA’s suggestion that the game might have found greater success as a live-service offering. While the game’s initial development included plans for live-service and multiplayer features, it was eventually released as a single-player adventure. This decision has become a point of contention following EA’s recent remarks.

Despite an enthusiastic reception from fans when Dragon Age: The Veilguard hit the shelves in October 2024, it unfortunately fell short of EA’s sales goals, moving only 1.5 million units. Initially, feedback from players was positive, but the positivity was short-lived as the game faced backlash for what some considered a “woke” agenda and subpar storytelling. Many longtime fans, having vividly recalled the critical acclaim of Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014, were left disappointed, pointing fingers at both BioWare and EA for the perceived decline in quality. One of the former directors on the project has now decided to respond publicly to some of EA’s recent comments, which some have found rather out of touch.

Andrew Wilson, EA’s CEO, hinted that a live-service model could have boosted The Veilguard’s performance, triggering a tidal wave of backlash online. Mike Laidlaw, once the creative mind behind Dragon Age since its inception, did not hold back in sharing his thoughts on Bluesky, as highlighted by Eurogamer. “I’m not in the fancy CEO club,” said Laidlaw, “but if someone told me that to succeed, a beloved single-player IP should switch entirely to multiplayer, I’d probably walk away from that job.” His departure from BioWare coincided with the announcement of The Veilguard’s live-service direction.

Adding another layer to the discourse, David Gaider, the primary writer for the first three Dragon Age games, chimed in on social media with his take. “Imagine being in an office with executives who know next to nothing about games,” he said. “They’re all buzzing, saying things like ‘Live games make big bucks!’ or ‘Action games are the future!’ Let me give EA some free advice, not that they asked for it: you’ve got an IP people love, really love. Wasn’t it profitable at its peak? Remember what made it work then.” Gaider reflected on the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 as a single-player hit, reminding EA of the patience and commitment of fans waiting for such experiences, before departing BioWare in 2016.

By late January 2025, the winds of change swept through Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s team, with layoffs following its poor performance. Corinne Busche, the game’s director, also parted ways with the company, leaving the future of the series uncertain. Meanwhile, the gaming community’s concerns have shifted towards Mass Effect 5, which is under development and untouched by the recent reshuffling. The fear is palpable that EA might be tempted to infuse these controversial live-service elements into Mass Effect 5. Historically, Mass Effect games have thrived on single-player narratives, and fans are wary that this could change in pursuit of a misguided strategy.

In the world of Thedas, where just a few heroes rise against formidable odds, the buzz continues. Set in a land of mystic depths and complex narratives, the expectation for Dragon Age: The Veilguard was palpable, yet unmet. EA’s examination of its strategy, against the backdrop of such responses and historical precedent, remains a focal point for industry observers and fans alike.