David Gaider, the creative force behind the Dragon Age universe, has stated he will not play the upcoming BioWare title, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Gaider, who served as lead writer for Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, expressed that he would likely "wince" the entire time due to his understanding of the development process.
Gaider, who left BioWare in 2016, revealed that he has "too much about what went on behind the scenes," describing the game's development as an "ordeal." He specifically pointed to publisher EA's actions, stating, "Electronic Arts really did a number on them in terms of setting them up to fail, honestly." According to Gaider, insights suggest that the game "didn't deliver on a creative level" and also failed to meet EA's sales expectations, a critical factor for the publisher.
"From everything I've been told about the game, it seems like that's exactly what happened," Gaider commented. "It didn't deliver on a creative level. It didn't deliver the sales. That's part of what EA likes to do too. They require a certain level of sales, and if you don't match that, it doesn't matter how good the game is. If it underperforms, you're essentially dead."
Beyond the publisher's influence, Gaider also noted a personal reluctance to engage with the new game. "Whether it was successful or not, it was always going to make different choices than I would have made for it," he explained. "The team took it, and they did their own version of it, and I don't really want to see what's changed. It's totally selfish—I just don't want to see what they've done with my baby, good or bad."
This sentiment reflects a broader pattern observed among former BioWare developers, who often express pride in their past work while offering critiques of EA's management. EA's CEO Andrew Wilson reportedly attributed The Veilguard's perceived shortcomings not to creative decisions or quality, but to its lack of live service elements. This perspective, Gaider suggests, demonstrates a misunderstanding of player desires and the game's specific issues.
Gaider's own post-BioWare career has seen its share of challenges. A proposed Planescape: Torment sequel at Beamdog was not funded, and his current studio, Summerfall Studios, faced a difficult launch window for its first game, Stray Gods, which coincided with the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3. Summerfall Studios is currently working on a heist RPG, which Gaider describes as "make or break" for the company, despite positive publisher feedback on the pitch.