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Dragon Age: The Veilguard Struggles to Meet EA’s High Expectations
January 23, 2025EA’s ambitious projections miss the mark.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the latest entry in BioWare’s beloved fantasy series, launched on October 31, 2024, and engaged 1.5 million players in its first two months. While this number might seem impressive, it fell significantly short of EA’s internal projection of 3 million players, signalling an underwhelming start for a game meant to revitalize the franchise.
Table of Contents
A Solid Start That Didn’t Hit the Mark
EA’s fiscal report revealed that The Veilguard’s player engagement during its first two months—measured through sales, EA Play Pro subscriptions, and free trial participation—was approximately 50% lower than expected. While it debuted at No. 6 on Circana’s U.S. top-selling games chart within its first three days (excluding Steam digital sales), its momentum quickly slowed.
The game’s initial 1.5 million player count isn’t terrible by industry standards, especially for a single-player RPG in a competitive market. However, for a title with the Dragon Age legacy, lofty development costs, and high marketing expectations, it wasn’t enough.
Behind the Numbers
Several factors contributed to the gap between EA’s projections and reality:
- Subscription Services and Trials
Unlike traditional unit sales, The Veilguard’s numbers were bolstered by availability on EA Play Pro and a free trial via EA Play. These services make it challenging to determine how many players actually purchased the game versus trying it out through subscriptions, leaving the sales figure ambiguous. - Cyber Monday Discounts
Less than a month after launch, the game received significant discounts during Cyber Monday sales. While discounts can boost short-term player engagement, they may also reflect slower-than-anticipated sales or lukewarm reception. - Critical and Commercial Comparisons
The Veilguard struggled to match the launch numbers of other AAA titles released around the same time, such as Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Dragon’s Dogma II. It also faced the daunting task of living up to the lifetime success of Dragon Age: Inquisition, which set a high bar for the series.
Development Challenges
The Veilguard’s performance is further clouded by significant challenges during its development cycle:
- Departures of Key Figures: Corinne Busche, the game’s director, left BioWare shortly after launch, highlighting potential internal issues.
- Layoffs and Leadership Changes: The project saw multiple leadership shifts and layoffs, raising questions about continuity and vision during development.
- Tough Competition: Launching alongside major titles in a crowded release window likely impacted its ability to stand out.
Industry Insights
Analysts believe The Veilguard had a “good, but not great” launch. Mat Piscatella of Circana noted that its launch week sales and player engagement levels were below other big-name RPGs, making it an uphill battle to achieve the lifetime success of previous Dragon Age games.
Despite these challenges, The Veilguard received praise from fans and critics alike. Its engaging combat, compelling companions, and emotional storytelling were celebrated, with many calling it a strong addition to the series. However, the game’s struggles to break past its launch issues may have dimmed its overall impact.
EA’s Response
EA’s fiscal outlook took a hit, with the company revising its projection for the fiscal year ending March 2025 from growth to a mid-single-digit decline. The blame isn’t entirely on The Veilguard; the underperformance of EA Sports FC 25 (formerly FIFA) was also a significant factor.
CEO Andrew Wilson acknowledged the challenges, but the lukewarm response to The Veilguard highlights a broader issue: the rising stakes of AAA game development and the difficulty of meeting audience expectations in a saturated market.
The Future of Dragon Age
The Dragon Age franchise has always been a pillar of BioWare’s legacy, and despite The Veilguard’s challenges, its critical acclaim shows the series still resonates with fans. Moving forward, BioWare and EA must address several key issues to ensure the franchise’s success:
- Player-Centric Strategies: Balancing ambitious projections with realistic sales expectations.
- Strengthening Leadership: Avoiding development setbacks caused by leadership departures and internal restructuring.
- Marketing and Timing: Choosing optimal release windows and ensuring robust pre-launch promotion.
Conclusively, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a testament to the challenges of AAA game development in today’s competitive landscape. While the game’s critical reception underscores its strengths, its commercial performance serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in keeping a beloved franchise alive. EA and BioWare face a steep road ahead, but with lessons learned, the Dragon Age legacy may yet endure.
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