Sales of The Veilguard Launch May Not Meet Expectations

Key Takeaways

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s debut has been described as "good but not great."
• The game might face challenges in surpassing the sales of DA: Inquisition.
• With over 12 million copies sold, DA: Inquisition remains BioWare’s top-selling title.

An industry analyst recently analyzed the market launch of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, suggesting the game might face challenges in outperforming the initial sales of DA: Inquisition. The debut of Dragon Age: The Veilguard was modest, according to insights provided as part of a broader market analysis.

Based on data from several third-party trackers, Dragon Age: The Veilguard managed to sell over 300,000 copies on Steam within its initial days. As of late November, this estimate has climbed beyond 500,000 units, indicating a steady but uninspiring growth trajectory.

On the console side, the RPG made a noticeable impact, ranking sixth among October’s top-selling games in the U.S., according to Circana. In a conversation with IGN, Mat Piscatella, Circana’s Executive Director, highlighted that this success was largely driven by sales on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms, noting that Steam sales aren’t considered in Circana’s monthly assessments. Including data from the major PC game storefront might have catapulted The Veilguard to a third-place position, Piscatella speculated. Nevertheless, the analyst remains cautious, expressing doubts that the game matches its predecessor’s standout launch performance, despite Circana’s market analysis only reaching back to 2018.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Launch Was Reportedly ‘Good But Not Great’

Piscatella labeled the game’s release as "good but not great," drawing on engagement metrics tracked by Circana. He noted that other titles like Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have eclipsed The Veilguard in terms of launch buzz. "It will be quite a challenge to reach Inquisition’s lifetime sales," Piscatella remarked, adding that insights from November 2024 sales will provide more clarity.

Back in September 2024, former BioWare Executive Producer Mark Darrah disclosed that Dragon Age: Inquisition’s lifetime sales exceeded 12 million. This figure is presumably somewhat dated, considering Darrah’s exit from BioWare in early 2021. Current estimates for The Veilguard put its sales under 2 million units as of late November 2024, consistent with Piscatella’s view that the game might not match BioWare’s best-seller’s lifetime achievements.

While there’s a precedent for big-budget single-player games eventually outselling their initial month launch numbers—The Witcher 3 is a prime example—such success isn’t commonplace. Given that BioWare has announced no plans for additional content after launch, it’s uncertain how Dragon Age: The Veilguard will perform long-term.

This game invites players into Thedas, a vibrant world full of rough terrains, challenging labyrinths, and dazzling cities, all steeped in mysteries and magic. In this landscape, two corrupted ancient gods rise from darkness, threatening the world. Players step into the role of Rook, Dragon Age’s latest hero, tasked with combating these looming threats with the help of seven unique companions, each bringing their own backstory and personal arcs, to form The Veilguard and battle the forces aiming to destroy the realm. Released on Halloween 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been received positively, with a strong OpenCritic rating.