Corinne Busche, the director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, is set to depart from EA-owned BioWare in the coming weeks, according to Eurogamer. Busche took on the role of game director in February 2022 and led the project until its launch in October of the previous year. IGN has reached out to EA for a statement on this matter.
Since its release, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has faced scrutiny regarding its success. However, Eurogamer assures that Busche's departure will not impact the studio otherwise. Busche, who joined BioWare in 2019 following her tenure at Maxis where she contributed to The Sims projects, played a pivotal role in steering Dragon Age: The Veilguard to completion amidst a tumultuous decade-long development. This journey included a significant shift from a multiplayer framework to a comprehensive single-player RPG.
Eurogamer emphasizes that Busche's exit is not linked to the commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. EA has yet to disclose whether the game's sales and revenue have met or exceeded expectations, with the company set to reveal its Q3 2025 financial results on February 4.
In other developments, BioWare has confirmed that there are no plans for Dragon Age: The Veilguard DLC, as the studio shifts its focus to Mass Effect 5, which has been teased but not yet fully revealed.
The backdrop to these changes includes significant layoffs at BioWare in August 2023, which coincided with the release of Baldur's Gate 3 by Larian. Approximately 50 employees, including veteran narrative designer Mary Kirby, were let go. These layoffs were part of a broader restructuring at EA, splitting the company into sports and non-sports divisions, amid rumors of BioWare's potential acquisition. Additionally, Star Wars: The Old Republic was transitioned to a third-party to allow BioWare to concentrate on Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
The journey of Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been a rollercoaster, marked by a challenging reveal in 2024. The initial reveal trailer was poorly received, prompting a quick follow-up with an early gameplay tease to reassure fans. The name change from Dreadwolf to The Veilguard also faced criticism, though subsequent impressions of the game were generally positive.
As BioWare navigates these changes, Dragon Age fans are left pondering whether the studio will have the opportunity to develop a follow-up to The Veilguard.