Dragon Age Co-Creator Offers EA Some Advice: Follow Baldur’s Gate 3 Developer Larian’s Lead

Former BioWare developers have voiced their opinions on the underperformance of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and EA CEO Andrew Wilson's comments regarding its failure to resonate with a wider audience. Wilson attributed the game's underperformance to its lack of "shared-world features and deeper engagement," despite its critical acclaim. This statement followed EA's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, resulting in staff reassignments and layoffs.

EA's financial report revealed that Dreadwolf engaged only 1.5 million players, significantly below projections. The game's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel, has been well-documented. BioWare staff reportedly considered the game's completion a miracle, given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Former BioWare narrative lead David Gaider criticized EA's takeaway from Dreadwolf's performance, suggesting that simply adding live-service elements is short-sighted. He argued that EA should instead emulate Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, focusing on the core strengths that made Dragon Age popular in the past. He emphasized the enduring fanbase and the potential for success by doubling down on what worked previously.

Mike Laidlaw, a former creative director on Dragon Age, expressed his strong disagreement with the idea of fundamentally altering a successful single-player IP into a purely multiplayer experience, stating he would likely resign if faced with such a demand.

The consequences of Dreadwolf's underperformance are evident in BioWare's restructuring, with a significant reduction in staff and a complete shift in focus to Mass Effect 5. EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, acknowledged the changing industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects, emphasizing the importance of blockbuster storytelling in the industry. The future of the Dragon Age franchise now remains uncertain.