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

Former BioWare developers have criticized EA's assessment of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's underperformance and the subsequent restructuring of BioWare. EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the game's failure to not resonate with a broad enough audience, suggesting the need for "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives. This statement, coupled with BioWare's restructuring to focus solely on Mass Effect 5, has led to widespread speculation and criticism.

Reports highlight the tumultuous development of Dreadwolf, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier cited internal BioWare sentiment that the game's completion was a miracle given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Prominent former BioWare developers voiced their opinions on social media. David Gaider, former narrative lead on Dragon Age, argued that EA's takeaway – that the game should have been live-service – is short-sighted. He suggested EA should instead emulate Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, focusing on the core strengths of the Dragon Age franchise that previously drove strong sales.

Mike Laidlaw, another former Dragon Age creative director, expressed that he would have resigned if pressured to transform a beloved single-player IP into a purely multiplayer experience. He emphasized the potential damage of fundamentally altering the DNA of a successful single-player game.

EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, acknowledged the financial underperformance of Dreadwolf, framing it as a reflection of the evolving industry landscape and justifying the resource reallocation towards Mass Effect 5. This reallocation reportedly involved significant staff reductions at BioWare, shrinking the studio considerably. The future of the Dragon Age franchise now appears uncertain, with BioWare's full attention directed towards the next Mass Effect installment.