Ex-BioWare Lead: EA Neglected Dragon Age Team

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Former Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah has opened up about the challenging early development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, revealing he felt EA and BioWare failed to properly support his team during critical stages.

In a candid YouTube video, the veteran developer shared behind-the-scenes details about what he describes as "the most consequential year in BioWare's history" - 2017. His retrospective covers pivotal decisions affecting both Dragon Age's development and the final stretch of Mass Effect: Andromeda.

The story begins in late 2016 when Darrah was reassigned to help complete Andromeda. He recalls his Dragon Age team feeling "abandoned" during this period with "little organizational support" from either studio or publisher. The temporary move was intended to free up resources for Dragon Age after Andromeda's launch - a plan that ultimately fell short.

"This created the first instance of leadership disruption we'd experienced," Darrah explained. "Having key personnel pulled from one project to salvage another sets a dangerous precedent. While my absence didn't critically impact Dragon Age long-term, it demonstrated how fragile development becomes when core leaders are reassigned mid-project."

Andromeda's problematic March 2017 launch coincided with major structural changes at BioWare as EA implemented more hands-on oversight. Darrah describes new leadership as "deeply invested" but notes their response to Andromeda's struggles effectively shelved the Mass Effect franchise. Throughout this period, he maintains Dragon Age still wasn't receiving adequate backing.

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The veteran developer recounts approaching EA executives Andrew Wilson and Patrick Söderlund about these concerns. Though they verbally affirmed Dragon Age's importance, tangible support remained scarce until Casey Hudson's unexpected return was announced that summer - a major studio shakeup executed without Darrah's input.

"As the studio's second-most senior leader, being completely excluded from such a pivotal decision showed profound disrespect," Darrah reflected. "Would my involvement have changed anything? Probably not. But involving key leadership in major personnel decisions is fundamental to maintaining trust."

When Darrah expressed fears about BioWare shifting focus to Anthem, EA leadership assured him Dragon Age remained a priority. "History shows how that turned out," he wryly noted.

The years following saw Anthem consume increasing resources while Dragon Age development struggled. By 2019, what would become The Veilguard had undergone what Darrah calls "foundational changes" from its original vision due to persistent resource constraints.

Upon its late 2024 release, The Veilguard earned critical praise (including our 9/10 review) but underperformed commercially. EA's subsequent comments about the game failing to "resonate broadly" drew criticism from former developers, some suggesting BioWare should emulate Larian Studios' approach with Baldur's Gate 3.

Recent studio restructuring has seen many Dragon Age team members laid off as BioWare pivots back to Mass Effect 5 development.