Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson told investors during the financial report that the decision to abandon live-service elements in Dragon Age: The Veilguard was a mistake. Because of this, the game did not meet the publisher's financial expectations, PC Gamer writes.
"Q3 was not the financial performance we wanted or expected, Wilson told investors. We know as a leader in global entertainment, great titles—even when built and delivered with polished execution—can sometimes miss our financial expectations."
As you know, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was originally intended to be a multiplayer game, but after the failure of BioWare's Anthem, EA decided to change course towards a single-player RPG.
"In order to break beyond the core audience, games need to directly connect to the evolving demands of players who increasingly seek shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives in this beloved category, Wilson explains. "Dragon Age had a high quality launch and was well-reviewed by critics and those who played; however, it did not resonate with a broad-enough audience in this highly competitive market."
EA CFO Stuart Canfield also noted that revenues from live games account for 74% of EA's profit. In 2024, the company earned $7.347 billion, including $5.449 billion from live games.