Mass Effect Fans Alarmed by New EA Statement

It is no secret Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not meet Electronic Arts‘ sales expectations. While it was critically received well for the most part, it did not quite hit its projected sales. EA CEO Andrew Wilson spoke about the reasoning he believes the game failed to meet their expectations which, in turn, has fans eagerly waiting for the next Mass Effect worried.

Mass Effect fans worried the upcoming game will have live service features

In a recent investor call, Wilson does compliment the work of BioWare, saying Dragon Age: The Veilguard was a “high quality launch,” but remarks on its resonance with a broader audience.

“Q3 was not the financial performance we wanted or expected,” Wilson said. “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,” Wilson 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.”

Essentially, it seems like Wilson believes Dragon Age: The Veilguard would have possibly been more successful if it featured multiplayer components and “deeper engagement.” Although not explicitly stated, this sure does sounds like live service features.

EA CFI Stuart Canfield shared Wilson’s sentiment.

“Historically, blockbuster storytelling has been the primary way our industry has brought beloved IP to players,” said Canfeild. “The game’s financial performance highlights the evolving industry landscape and reinforces the importance of our actions to reallocate toward our most significant and highest potential opportunities.”

As one would expect, this is a pretty alarming statement for Mass Effect fans. Bioware once attempted live service gaming with Anthem which did not end so well. Love it or hate it, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was somewhat a return to form for the studio. However, with it not hitting sales expectations, Mass Effect fans think its possible live service features could make their way into the upcoming entry.

As seen on ResetEra, many posts are against any service features even touching Mass Effect. Across the board, it seems clear this is not the direction the series’ fans want to see EA and BioWare take.

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