BioWare's latest release, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, has finally hit the shelves after a lengthy development period marked by significant design changes. As reported by Bloomberg, The Veilguard initially began as a single-player game but was later rebooted to emphasize multiplayer and live-service elements. However, under the leadership of Gary McKay, who took over as BioWare's General Manager, the project faced another pivotal decision. McKay questioned whether the multiplayer/live-service approach was the right path, ultimately leading to the game's second reboot, returning to its single-player roots.

"We were deliberating, 'Does [multiplayer/live-service] align with our strengths, or is this another hurdle we must overcome?'" McKay explained. "Ultimately, we decided to return to what we excel at." Over several months, McKay engaged in extensive discussions with BioWare's senior staff and EA, culminating in the decision to revert The Veilguard to its original single-player design.

"Once we made that decision, many aspects of the game began to align," McKay noted. While EA's live-service sector is thriving, with recent reports indicating $1.3 billion in earnings from live services over the past three months, not every EA game will follow this model. Prior to The Veilguard, EA found success with the single-player-only Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which sold over 10 million copies, and its sequel, Jedi Survivor, was one of the best-selling games of 2023.

In addition, the interview revealed that BioWare's other major internal team, which was working on the next Mass Effect, was brought in to assist with The Veilguard's completion. EA's Motive Studio, currently developing a new Iron Man game, also contributed to BioWare's efforts.

McKay expressed hope that The Veilguard will help BioWare reclaim its status as a premier game studio, following the challenges faced with Anthem. Early indications are promising, with generally positive review scores and record-setting performance on Steam. GameSpot's ongoing review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard currently stands at 7/10. For those just starting their journey in The Veilguard, GameSpot's comprehensive guides hub is a valuable resource.

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