Is EA in trouble? Its CEO highlights the difficulties in adapting to live service models

In a recent financial call, EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, spoke about the performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, suggesting that the game failed to resonate with a broad audience and lacked typical live service features. Despite receiving positive reviews and being played by approximately 1.5 million people, the game did not meet the company’s high expectations, leading to questions about its future in the context of EA’s growing focus on live service titles, which represent 74% of its revenue.

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Don’t Mess with Mass Effect

Wilson emphasized that for a game like The Veilguard to succeed, it must directly connect with the demands of players seeking shared experiences and deeper engagement. This statement has been seen as an attempt to justify the lack of live service components in the game, which has sparked criticism about the direction EA is taking with its future developments, including iconic franchises like Mass Effect.

The situation at BioWare is concerning; many observers fear that the pressure to adopt a live service model could sacrifice the quality of future releases. In contrast, the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, a single-player RPG that has sold over 10 million copies, underscores the viability and demand for high-quality single-player games. This success has fueled criticism of the notion that the lack of live service elements was the cause of The Veilguard’s performance.

With the shadow of business decisions focused on maximizing revenue, the future of BioWare and its ability to deliver meaningful experiences seem increasingly uncertain. The constant pivots and lack of clear focus could prove disastrous for promising titles like Mass Effect 5, leaving fans worried about what is to come.

Dragon Age The Veilguard DOWNLOAD