Former BioWare writer David Gaider has revealed that Electronic Arts (EA) consistently favored the Mass Effect franchise over the Dragon Age series since the beginning.
In a recent post on social media, Gaider, who was the lead writer for Dragon Age and contributed to every installment except for The Veilguard, responded to a fan inquiry about his departure from BioWare in 2016 after nearly twenty years with the company. He stated, “While I was at BioWare, EA *always* preferred Mass Effect, straight up. Their marketing team liked it more.”
Gaider further elaborated on the reasons behind this preference, noting that it was due to Mass Effect’s modern aesthetic and action-oriented gameplay. He expressed that EA was often unsure how to approach Dragon Age, stating, “Whenever DA outperformed ME, ME got the excuses. If you ask me, it was always just shy of the axe since DA Origins.” This revelation may come as a surprise to many long-time fans of the franchise, who have speculated that such disparities in the series could explain the varied experiences within Dragon Age games.
In response to a follower’s question regarding Gaider’s comment on BioWare’s inconsistent direction for Dragon Age, he acknowledged that there are multiple factors at play. “Maybe in part,” he conceded regarding the query. “I’d say the biggest reason was that, while I was there, the BioWare teams were prone to overreaction. They would take feedback—both internal and external—to heart, adjusting the game as necessary but also sometimes overcorrecting.”
Gaider also acknowledged the role of EA’s influence in shaping the variation seen throughout Dragon Age titles: “And then there was EA’s influence on top of that, yes.” This statement may resonate with many who have followed Gaider’s critiques of EA in the past. Earlier this year, he urged EA to “follow Larian’s lead and double down on that,” in light of statements made about The Veilguard, which the company claimed “did not resonate with a broad enough audience” following its underwhelming market performance.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s director is currently working on an undisclosed project for Wizards of the Coast, which has recently suggested that more content for Baldur’s Gate could be on the horizon.