Dragon Age: The Veilguard Director Reportedly Exits BioWare

Corinne Busche, the director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, is reportedly departing from BioWare, an EA-owned studio. Eurogamer reported her departure, expected within the coming weeks, following her tenure as game director from February 2022 until the game's launch last year. EA has yet to comment.

The commercial success of Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been a subject of speculation since its October release. Eurogamer stated that Busche's departure is an isolated event and doesn't signify broader changes within the studio.

Busche joined BioWare in 2019 after working at Maxis on various The Sims titles. Her role at BioWare was crucial in guiding The Veilguard through its final development stages, a journey detailed in IGN's article, "How BioWare Finally Got Dragon Age to the Finish Line After a Tumultuous Decade," which highlighted the game's nearly decade-long development, including a significant overhaul from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG.

Eurogamer reports Busche's exit is unrelated to the game's performance. EA's official stance on whether sales met expectations remains pending, with Q3 2025 financial results expected on February 4.

BioWare has confirmed no DLC is planned for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, shifting focus to Mass Effect 5, a project previously teased but yet to be fully unveiled.

The news follows August 2023 layoffs affecting approximately 50 BioWare employees, including veterans such as narrative designer Mary Kirby. These layoffs coincided with an EA restructuring and rumors of potential BioWare acquisition. The decision to transition Star Wars: The Old Republic to a third-party developer was also made, ostensibly to allow BioWare to concentrate on Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

The turbulent journey continued with the 2024 reveal of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Initial negative reactions to the reveal trailer prompted a swift release of gameplay footage to appease fans. The name change from Dreadwolf to The Veilguard also drew criticism, although subsequent impressions were generally more positive.

The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain, leaving fans questioning whether BioWare will be given the opportunity to develop a sequel to The Veilguard.