James Ohlen defends Dragon Age: The Veilguard developers

Following the news of BioWare's closure in October 2026 and the cancellation of a new Mass Effect project, veteran developer James Ohlen has defended the staff behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Responding to player criticism that the development of The Veilguard contributed to the studio's decline, Ohlen stated on X that the majority of the approximately 200 developers on the team had little to no influence over the specific aspects that fans found objectionable. He argued that structural issues, such as budget approvals and project pivots, are the responsibility of leadership rather than individual contributors like level designers.

Ohlen, known for his creative roles in Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, emphasized that game developers are not a monolithic ideological machine. He noted that while he has personal critiques regarding modern entertainment and political messaging in narratives, the individual employees should not be targeted for corporate or structural decisions.