Chasing live-service and open-world elements diluted BioWare's focus, Dragon Age: The Veilguard director says, discussing studio's return to its roots

Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s co-directors have discussed BioWare’s push to return to its roots in character-focused single-player role-playing games, after its recent struggles with both Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem.

Speaking on the My Perfect Console podcast, The Veilguard directors Corinne Busche and John Epler said BioWare had been supported by publisher EA in returning to what the studio had always done best, after seeing its focus diluted by chasing industry trends.

“I felt very supported through this by BioWare and EA,” Busche said, on Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s development. “And I’ll tell you, it’s intimidating to buck the trends in an era where it feels like almost every game must be an open world.

“It’s [being able to say], you know what – that works for those titles. For us, the way in which we tell the best stories and stay true to our roots – a more handcrafted, intimate solution is appropriate. And just to have that support from within, around getting back to those elements we do best, was fantastic.”