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Fact check: Its hard to accept Bioware's claims that Dragon Age The Veilguard was financially successful when Bioware has no plans for expansions to the game, has already discounted the game, and officially parted ways with the game's director and the studio just parted ways, and rumors are now swirling that the studio may be shuttered.
1. Summary of the results
The financial success of Dragon Age: The Veilguard appears to be significantly below expectations. Multiple sources confirm disappointing sales figures:
- Only 100,000 copies sold in Germany and ranked 68th in European charts [1]
- Total sales estimated between 500,000 to 1.5 million copies globally [2] [3]
- These numbers fall dramatically short of BioWare's internal goal of 10 million sales [1]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:
*Critical Reception:
- The game has received glowing reviews and fan praise, helping restore BioWare's reputation after previous disappointments like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda [4]
- Reviews describe it as both thrilling and disappointing, with innovative features but significant departures from previous titles [5]
Studio Direction:
- The game represents a deliberate shift toward character-focused storytelling and a more intimate experience, supported by EA [6]
- BioWare is now focusing on Mass Effect 5 rather than DLC for Veilguard [7]
Leadership Changes:
- Corinne Busche's departure was voluntary and unrelated to the game's performance - she left for a new opportunity after 18 years [8] [9]
**3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement**
The original statement contains several misleading implications:
Studio Closure:
- Rumors about BioWare Edmonton being shuttered are explicitly false according to Jeff Grubb [8]
Director Departure:
- The statement implies the director was forced out, when in fact it was a voluntary departure for a new opportunity [8] [9]
Financial Success Definition*:
- While sales were below expectations, the game achieved "decent" sales [9] and succeeded in critical reception [4]
- The statement fails to acknowledge that the game was part of a deliberate strategy to create a more focused, single-player experience rather than chasing market trends [6]
The narrative benefits different stakeholders:
- Critics of EA/BioWare benefit from pushing a "studio in crisis" narrative
- Competitors in the RPG space might benefit from undermining confidence in BioWare's future
- Gaming media benefits from controversy and speculation about studio closure