Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the new fantasy action RPG from BioWare that launched for PS5, Windows PCs, and Xbox Series X|S on Halloween, may have “underperformed” and failed to meet internal targets because today’s gamers don’t appreciate blockbuster storytelling anymore, according to new statements that Stuart Canfield (CFO, EVP at EA) made during the company’s Q3 2025 earnings call, which was held on February 4.
“Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperformed — the competitive dynamics of the single-player RPG market and EA Sports FC 25 started strong, but softened through the holiday period,” Canfield admitted to participants before going on to give some idea as to why the game didn’t do as great as EA had hoped, including what sounds like the end of the Dragon Age franchise.
“Historically, blockbuster storytelling has been the primary way our industry bought beloved IP to players,” the executive explained. “The game’s financial performance highlights the evolving industry landscape and reinforces the importance of our actions to reallocate resources towards our most significant and highest potential opportunities.”
“Q3 was not the financial performance we wanted or expected,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson added in a financial call. “We know as a leader in global entertainment, great titles—even when built and delivered with polished execution—can sometimes miss our financial expectations.”
“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,” he continued. “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.”
“I have just uninstalled a game that has sullied the name of what used to be one of my favorite video game franchises,” reads a negative review for BioWare’s latest game on Steam. “Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a disappointment to me on so many levels.”
“After 450 hours and 5 runs i have to admit that Dragon Age Vailguard is my least favourite Dragon age game,” countered another. “I don’t have any issues with the mechanics of the game but i do have lots of issues with the stories being told.”