Dragon Age: The Veilguard has seen significant price drops shortly after its release, raising concerns about the game’s performance and the future of the franchise. While these discounts benefit consumers, they could indicate underlying sales struggles for Electronic Arts.
Typically, AAA games retain their full retail price for several months after launch. However, The Veilguard has already seen substantial discounts across various marketplaces, bringing the price down to $39.99 or less in some instances. While some of these price reductions can be attributed to holiday sales, others appear to be permanent price adjustments. Since early December, many retailers have been selling the game for $49.99 on PS5 and Xbox, a significant discount just weeks after its release.
This aggressive price reduction strategy suggests that The Veilguard may be underperforming in terms of sales at its original $69.99 price point. EA’s decision to lower the price so drastically so soon after launch indicates a push to boost sales figures. Although the effectiveness of this strategy remains to be seen, it raises red flags for such a new release.
The concern surrounding The Veilguard’s performance stems from BioWare’s recent track record. Both Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, the studio’s previous releases, fell short of commercial and critical expectations. This put immense pressure on BioWare to deliver a successful product with The Veilguard. While the game has generally received positive reviews, its apparent sales struggles are a cause for concern.
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The future of BioWare remains uncertain if The Veilguard fails to meet EA’s commercial goals. This would mark the studio’s third consecutive underperforming title, potentially leading to repercussions from EA, who have a history of shutting down studios that don’t meet expectations. The success of The Veilguard was seen as crucial for BioWare’s future, and its potential failure adds even more pressure to the highly anticipated Mass Effect 5.
The upcoming months will be critical in determining the long-term impact of The Veilguard’s sales performance. While it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions, the current situation warrants close observation. The future of BioWare and the Dragon Age franchise may hang in the balance.
