EA Urged To Emulate Larian, Improve DA Franchise

Former BioWare developers have criticized EA's assessment of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's underperformance and subsequent restructuring of BioWare. EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the game's failure to a lack of broad appeal, specifically citing the absence of "shared-world features and deeper engagement." This followed a significant restructuring at BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5 and resulting in layoffs and transfers of staff who worked on Dreadwolf.

EA reported that Dreadwolf engaged 1.5 million players, significantly below projections. Reports detailing the game's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel, have surfaced. One report suggests that the game's completion was a "miracle" after EA's initial push for live-service elements was reversed.

Wilson's comments implied that incorporating multiplayer features would have improved sales. However, it's been reported that the game underwent a significant development reboot, shifting from a planned multiplayer title to a single-player RPG.

Former BioWare narrative lead David Gaider criticized EA's conclusion, suggesting that focusing on live-service as the solution is short-sighted. He argued that EA should instead emulate Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, which, despite offering multiplayer, prioritizes a compelling single-player experience. He urged EA to leverage Dragon Age's strengths and cater to its existing fanbase.

Mike Laidlaw, a former creative director on Dragon Age, expressed even stronger dissent, stating he would resign if pressured to transform a successful single-player franchise into a purely multiplayer game. He highlighted the inherent risk of altering the core DNA of a beloved franchise.

The outcome appears to be the effective shelving of the Dragon Age franchise, with BioWare now fully dedicated to Mass Effect 5. EA CFO Stuart Canfield acknowledged the changing industry landscape and the financial underperformance of Dreadwolf, justifying the resource reallocation towards Mass Effect 5. This reallocation reportedly involved a significant reduction in BioWare's staff size.