In the gaming world, folks have been buzzing after some comments from EA executives during the latest earnings call, hinting that Dragon Age: The Veilguard might have seen better sales if it had retained its initial live-service features. As many might have guessed, not everyone is convinced by this theory.
This speculation emerged on the heels of both Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 25 failing to hit their sales targets. These shortcomings have led to some changes and staff reductions at BioWare, sparking even more discussion within the community.
In the midst of it all, David Gaider, a longtime contributor to Dragon Age’s rich lore, shared his insights on what EA appears to be learning from Veilguard’s performance. In a Bluesky thread, Gaider expressed skepticism about the notion that live-service elements are a surefire path to success, despite understanding why some might see it as a lucrative venture.
“There are many lessons that EA could glean from a game like Veilguard,” Gaider remarked, “but the takeaway that it should have been a live service game feels a bit short-sighted and self-serving.”
Gaider further advised EA, saying, “Consider your IP, which has a devoted fandom. At its peak, it sold remarkably well. Reflect on what made it succeed back then. Take a page from Larian’s playbook and double down on those strengths. Your audience is out there—waiting.”
Pointing to the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Gaider highlighted how single-player games, when crafted with a strong vision and given the necessary time and resources, can rival even the biggest titles in the crowded live-service market.
Additionally, Gaider addressed the ongoing criticism concerning the so-called “wokeness” in gaming—a term often misused as a vague critique of a game’s perceived flaws. “For those in the anti-woke camp, there are woke games that succeed and those that don’t, but the only ones they claim failed because they were ‘woke’—that says more about them than the games,” he noted.
As for what’s next for both Dragon Age and Mass Effect, only time will tell. With BioWare now operating on a leaner team, much of the focus will shift to the latter, leaving fans eager to see what comes next from this storied company.
