Darrah: EA's yearly-release push hurt Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Former BioWare lead Mark Darrah says EA's demand for annual releases and missing senior leadership contributed to the game's commercial failure.
Former BioWare lead developer Mark Darrah published a YouTube video in which he analyzed why Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed commercially, pointing to Electronic Arts' demand for yearly releases from the studio, according to gamesradar.com.
Darrah said the project ran without its most senior leadership from 2017 to 2019, a period when he was working on Anthem.
He also tied the shortfall to EA's expectation that BioWare deliver a game every year, a cadence he described as shaping how the studio's projects were planned and staffed.
At one point BioWare's slate included Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem and Dragon Age 4, all planned for yearly releases from 2013 onward.
Darrah announced his departure from BioWare in late 2020, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard was released in late 2024 to a muted response. Mass Effect 5 is apparently in development, but little has been heard about it for years.
Quick answers
Why did Dragon Age: The Veilguard fail commercially?
Former BioWare lead developer Mark Darrah attributes the failure in part to Electronic Arts' demand for yearly releases from BioWare and to the project running without its most senior leadership from 2017 to 2019.
Where did Mark Darrah explain the failure?
Darrah published a YouTube video analyzing why Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed commercially.
When did Mark Darrah leave BioWare?
He announced his departure from BioWare in late 2020.