After a decade of anticipation, Dragon Age: The Veilguard arrived in late 2024. Sadly, it was a little underwhelming, the product of a troubled development cycle where EA attempted to make it live-service before it became purely single-player. In a post-mortem response to the publisher, original Draogn Age writer David Gaider had some choice words on the state of the industry at the moment.
Much of the reaction to Dragon Age: The Veilguard has pivoted on the RPG almost having some live-service elements. In an earnings call, EA mentioned that The Veilguard didn’t reach a “broad enough audience” and that players “increasingly seek shared-world features and deeper engagement.”
David Gaider, a writer on Dragon Age: Origins and numerous other hit fantasy games, reacted to EA’s mindset on Bluesky. He breaks down how execs see current returns on big action games and live-service projects, and decide the development team should pivot to those, not because the audience want them, but because there’s chance of huge profits if they land.
In The Veilguard’s case, there was sincere pull towards making it a multiplayer game of sorts, before all of that was stripped away for a single-player experience like the series is known for. Gaider considers the above implication that a lack of live-service elements contributed to its lesser showing “short-sighted and self-serving”.
He finishes with some advice: “Look at what [Dragon Age] did best at the point where it sold the most. Follow Larian’s lead and double down on that. The audience is still there. And waiting.”
He’s referencing Baldur’s Gate 3, there, if you weren’t sure, one of the best PC games of 2023 and something that enjoyed a huge cultural moment. Between strong RPG craftmanship and the increasing popular of Dungeons and Dragons, the third Baldur’s Gate delivered the kind of single-player narrative fans were looking for, and Larian were rewarded for it.
Dragon Age could do the same, if developer BioWare is given appropriate room and resources to do so. Sadly, what’s probably more likely is that Mass Effect 5 see greater pressure for some live elements.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is available now. If you’re considering venturing into its depths, have a look at our guides to Dragon Age The Veilguard romance options and the best Dragon Age The Veilguard builds.
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