David Gaider says new heist RPG could decide Summerfall Studios' fate as he slams EA over Dragon Age

David Gaider, the former lead writer of BioWare’s Dragon Age series, is now developing a new role‑playing game about a crew of outlaws conducting raids from a balloon. The project, which he hopes will secure the future of his independent studio Summerfall Studios, remains unfunded; publishers are demanding near‑complete prototypes before committing resources, leaving small studios financially precarious.

Gaider also announced he will not play Dragon Age: The Veilguard, calling the 2024 release his “baby” and citing his deep knowledge of internal troubles. He blamed Electronic Arts for hindering the game’s development, limiting creative freedom, and imposing sales targets that the title failed to meet. His comments highlight broader industry contraction, layoffs, and risk‑averse funding practices affecting developers worldwide.