It is no secret that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not meet EA’s expectations. Despite being a good game, it was down nearly 50% from the company’s projections, so it performed poorly there. However, a lot of that could have been the marketing and the idea that the game would be too far from what fans of the series wanted. Now, EA is moving The Veilguard to Game Pass, which is an incredibly smart move.

With one of 2024’s biggest games headed to Game Pass, it’s clear that EA has a good idea of where to put games that underperformed. Game Pass is a great idea for other games that either did as badly as Dragon Age or almost made it, and that need another marketing push. There are few better ways to market the game than to put it in front of players who likely didn’t buy it but would play it on a subscription service.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Didn’t Do As Well As EA Hoped

Weak Sales Figures Didn’t Meet EA’s Projections

Dragon Age: The Veilguard had a pretty good critical reception, including ScreenRant’s own review. However, according to an EA press release, the 1.5 million player engagement was down nearly 50% from the company’s expectations. The lack of sales was a huge hit to the company, and it could not do well enough to be considered a success – yet. There’s still a lot EA could do to help the game break even and become profitable.

According to MADkurious gamer’s X post, the company spent $250 million to make the game. So, after taking out the fees, it would take six million copies sold to reach the needed amount to break even. We only know the first-quarter profits for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but that is a far cry from where the game needs to be, because sales don’t generally spike up after the first quarter; they typically fade.

EA wanted about three million in sales in the first quarter so it could likely break even or profit within the first year. That doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, and Dragon Age is too much of an investment for the company to let go. So, the smart thing to do is find other ways to market it to gamers; that’s why Game Pass is such a smart idea for EA to push.

Game Pass Gives Life To Games In Its Service

It’s Like A Second Chance To Discover Dragon Age

Xbox Game Pass is more than just a subscription; it’s a way to breathe fresh air into games. This is a great path for titles like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which struggled to find fans when they first came out. Game Pass platform clearly boosts player numbers, sales, and overall reception because it puts the game in front of players for its subscription fee. This is actually how I got into Yakuza, because it was free on Game Pass.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard asked for $70 purchases, which is a lot of money to bet on a game you’re not sure you’ll enjoy. Game Pass tends to come with discounts for the games on the service, which should also boost sales. Either way, it’s exposing more people to The Veilguard, which should work in its favor.

It seems like Game Pass will give Ultimate subscribers a free trial of the game, which may be enough to convince people to buy it. That’s a smart deal, because some people don’t even know that they don’t like it; they’re just assuming. This will let those people see if it’s really not a game for them or if they’re being too hard on BioWare as a whole.

If you are one of those people who will try it, just be warned that it’s not going to be like the older Dragon Age games. Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t like Origins, so don’t go in with expectations of what you think the game should be. Enjoy the game for what it is. You will be disappointed if you’re expecting an RPG like the older Dragon Age games. This is a lot safer, but it’s more open to everyone.

Game Pass Deals Are Normally Good For Everyone

Both Microsoft & The Publisher Benefits

The NoClip YouTube Documentary shows what developers expect when getting a deal with a service like this, but it’s not set in stone for everyone. Every developer who puts their game into Game Pass gets a unique deal, but we can make assumptions based on what would go into a contract with this kind of service. Dragon Age: The Veilguard definitely received a unique deal, but it’s not about the temporary financial benefits.

There are plenty of ways to get paid, like an upfront payment based on the developer’s reputation and the total production benefit. This would help indie games that tend to need that upfront payment for the studio to survive. Larger AAA studios likely receive a bigger payment or a set payment based on downloads like revenue sharing.

EA is likely going to get a spike in sales of Dragon Age: The Veilguard just from having it on Game Pass.

I have to assume that EA received an up-front payment because I think the goal is about downloads, not about making the most money the publisher can in the deal. Game Pass is a very good way to market a game, and giving players a trial will benefit EA far more than fees will. Marketing is expensive, and the free marketing Microsoft will give Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a good deal overall.

More Underperforming Games Should Head To Game Pass

It’s Like A Cheat Code To Marketing

This is an incredibly smart move on EA’s part, and something more publishers should try. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an AAA game that likely needs the extra marketing push; this isn’t a case of trying to make money off of a bad game. Other studios that make great games but need the extra marketing push should try this, too. Game Pass is one of the few services that could guarantee sales and that players will see games. That kind of marketing is rare, and worth it for studios to try.

I have had Game Pass for a few years and always check every so often to see what new games are coming out, and I try them when they do. I know I am not alone, so EA is likely going to get a spike in sales of Dragon Age: The Veilguard just from having it on Game Pass. Publishers who haven’t sold many games or need the extra marketing should try this, because it’s a smart way to get more eyes on their game.