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Fact check: Dragon Age The Veilguard performed so poorly that EA laid off the entire writing staff of the game.

Checked on January 31, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The statement contains both accurate and inaccurate elements. Dragon Age: The Veilguard did indeed perform poorly, reaching only 1.5 million players against an expected 3 million - a 50% underperformance of EA's expectations [1] [2] [3]. While layoffs did occur, the claim about "the entire writing staff" being laid off is not supported by the available evidence. Several key writers including Trick Weekes, Karin West-Weekes, Ryan Cormier, Jen Cheverie, and Michelle Flamm did leave the company [4], but sources indicate that some developers were relocated to other EA positions rather than being terminated [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement oversimplifies a more complex situation:

  • EA implemented a broader "studio restructuring" rather than simply laying off staff [5]
  • Some team members were transferred to other roles within EA rather than being terminated [4]
  • The metric used to measure performance was "player engagement" rather than traditional sales figures [3]
  • EA has been notably vague about the specific numbers of layoffs [5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement appears to exaggerate the scope of the layoffs, possibly to create a more dramatic narrative. While there were indeed significant departures and the game's performance was poor, the characterization of "the entire writing staff" being laid off is not supported by any of the sources. The sources consistently report that:

  • Only a "smaller number" of team members had their roles terminated [4]
  • Some staff were relocated within EA rather than laid off [4]
  • The company gave vague responses about restructuring rather than confirming mass layoffs [5]

This kind of exaggeration could benefit various parties:

  • Gaming media outlets seeking more dramatic headlines
  • Competitors looking to capitalize on EA's struggles
  • Critics of EA's management practices
  • Industry observers pushing narratives about the decline of traditional gaming studios
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