Former BioWare executive Mark Darrah recently shared that the developers of the next Mass Effect installment should consider using Dragon Age: The Veilguard as a scapegoat to shield themselves from the challenges inherent in game development. This unexpected advice comes from someone with extensive experience in the gaming industry, particularly with the Dragon Age series.

Darrah mentioned in an interview with MrMattyPlays that pointing fingers at Veilguard’s shortcomings could help the Mass Effect team mitigate pressure from EA. He emphasized that acknowledging the hurdles faced during Veilguard’s production might prevent the developers from encountering similar issues.

Despite having launched last year with generally favorable reviews, Dragon Age: The Veilguard struggled to captivate players, having reportedly underperformed by 50% in its first quarter. As a result, BioWare faced layoffs, intensifying scrutiny on their current projects, including Mass Effect.

In his discussion, Darrah also noted that past BioWare projects often clashed with one another, suggesting that concentrating efforts on a single title could enhance productivity. He pointed out a notable challenge from EA executives who historically overlooked potential in niche titles like Dragon Age: Origins, indicating a trend prioritizing mainstream appeal over creativity.

The upcoming Mass Effect game remains shrouded in mystery regarding its title, setting, and release timeline. All eyes are on BioWare, hoping they can deliver a successful project amidst growing dissatisfaction from EA.