"Ex-BioWare Lead: EA's Lack of Interest Caused 'Jerked Around' Feeling for Dragon Age: The Veilguard Team"

Former Dragon Age series executive producer Mark Darrah has expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of support he and his team received from EA and BioWare during the early stages of developing Dragon Age: The Veilguard. In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Darrah detailed his experiences during what he described as "the most impactful 12 months in BioWare’s history" in 2017. He discussed how decisions made during this period not only influenced the initial development of the latest Dragon Age game but also reflected a shift in attitude that stemmed from the final stages of Mass Effect: Andromeda's development.

Darrah's involvement with the Dragon Age team was interrupted in late 2016 when he was reassigned to help with the final development stages of Mass Effect: Andromeda. He felt that this move left the Dragon Age team unsupported, stating, "My feeling at the time was that the Dragon Age team felt 'jerked around' and had 'no support from BioWare or EA.'" The intention was for Darrah to help expedite Mass Effect's release so that more resources could be allocated to Dragon Age. However, this plan did not materialize as hoped.

Reflecting on this period, Darrah noted the dangerous precedent set by having a project continue without its core leadership, saying, "This was the first time where we had this leadership discontinuity... It is incredibly dangerous to have a project run while it’s missing some of its core leadership."

Mass Effect: Andromeda launched in March 2017 to a less-than-stellar reception. Amidst this, BioWare was undergoing significant structural changes, with the team now reporting to new, highly interested EA leadership. Despite the troubled launch of Mass Effect, Darrah felt that Dragon Age still wasn't receiving the necessary support post-launch.

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Darrah shared his concerns with then-EA CEO Andrew Wilson and former EA executive Patrick Söderlund, who reassured him of Dragon Age's importance. However, the support from EA remained minimal. In a significant move, BioWare staff were informed without prior notice of the return of studio veteran Casey Hudson. Darrah expressed his frustration over the lack of consultation in this decision, emphasizing the disrespect he felt.

Anticipating a shift in focus towards Anthem, Darrah was told that Dragon Age would receive the attention it deserved. Contrary to these assurances, EA's focus shifted heavily to Anthem, which faced its own challenges upon release in 2019. Throughout this period, Darrah felt his trust in EA was continuously tested, and resources were consistently diverted from Dragon Age: The Veilguard, leading to fundamental changes in the project.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard was released in late 2024 and received positive reviews, with IGN giving it a 9/10. Despite this, EA deemed its launch a disappointment, stating it failed to "resonate with a broad enough audience." This view was contested by former BioWare developers, who suggested the company should follow the model set by Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios.

Following the release, many Dragon Age developers were laid off in January of the current year as BioWare shifted its focus back to Mass Effect 5.