Dragon Age: The Veilguard Director Reportedly Exits BioWare

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, who took the helm as game director in February 2022 and guided the game to its launch in October of the previous year, is leaving the studio amidst ongoing discussions about the game's performance. IGN has reached out to EA for further comment on the matter.

Since its release, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has faced scrutiny regarding its success. Despite this, Eurogamer noted that Busche's departure is not linked to the game's commercial performance. EA has yet to disclose whether the game's sales and revenue met or exceeded expectations, with the company set to announce its Q3 2025 financial results on February 4.

Busche joined BioWare in 2019, following her time at Maxis where she worked on The Sims projects. Her role as director was crucial in steering Dragon Age: The Veilguard through its final development stages. IGN's article, 'How BioWare Finally Got Dragon Age to the Finish Line After a Tumultuous Decade,' detailed the game's extensive development journey, which saw a significant shift from a multiplayer concept to a full single-player RPG.

In other news, BioWare has confirmed that there are no plans for Dragon Age: The Veilguard DLC, as the studio shifts its focus to Mass Effect 5. This next installment has been teased but not yet fully revealed.

The studio has faced challenges beyond The Veilguard. In August 2023, coinciding with the release of Larian's Baldur's Gate 3, BioWare laid off approximately 50 employees, including long-time staff like narrative designer Mary Kirby. These layoffs occurred during an internal restructuring at EA, which divided the company into sports and other segments. Rumors of BioWare's potential acquisition circulated that summer, and 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 turbulent, from its reveal in 2024 and the subsequent negative reaction to the initial trailer, prompting BioWare to release an early gameplay teaser. The name change from Dreadwolf to The Veilguard also faced criticism, though later impressions of the game were generally positive.

With Busche's departure and the shift in focus to Mass Effect 5, Dragon Age fans are left pondering whether BioWare will have the opportunity to continue the series with another sequel.