Not only is it a miracle that it was released, but BioWare’s future might depend on how Dragon Age: The Veilguard performs. Bloomberg recently published a comprehensive piece that delves into the game’s challenging development journey and how the studio is struggling to rise above its recent failures.

The latest Dragon Age entry, launched on Halloween, aims to reestablish itself as a “true return to RPG roots” for Canada-based BioWare after the disastrous receptions of Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda. With The Veilguard receiving initial positive feedback, this might mark not only a comeback for the Western RPG saga but also reduce the pressure on BioWare, whose reputation has been in question for years.

BioWare’s studio head, Gary McKay, expressed that this title might be the crucial turning point needed to restore BioWare’s good name, especially after the setbacks at the end of the last decade. According to Bloomberg’s report, the project went through two major revamps: initially envisioned as a single-player RPG, it shifted to a live-service game before ultimately returning to its original RPG format.

Beyond the development challenges, BioWare had to tackle the hurdles brought by the pandemic and remote work transition, impacting team hiring and organization. Adding to these difficulties were layoffs in August 2023 and repeated delays. Despite these adversities, The Veilguard’s release is seen as something of a miracle, and it has already received positive critical acclaim.

BioWare’s parent company, Electronic Arts, also holds high hopes, now that the studio seems to be back on track. EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, noted at the recent investor meeting that Dragon Age: The Veilguard could become a major hit due to the “incredibly positive reviews” and the “limited competition” in the AAA RPG space at the moment.

The Grand Premiere of The Veilguard

For now, the full picture of sales and profits remains to be seen, but EA appears more optimistic than it was prior to the RPG’s release. Within only four hours, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has become BioWare and EA’s most replayed single-player game on Steam, though figures from the EA App and consoles are not yet available.

Source: 3djuegos