Electronic Arts (EA) has revised its outlook for the fiscal year ending March 2025 due to a slowdown in global football net bookings growth and underperforming game Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The company expects mid-single-digit decline in revenue this year, compared to mid-single-digit growth in previous years.
The main culprit behind the slowdown is EA Sports FC, which experienced a Q3 slowdown after two consecutive fiscal years of double-digit net bookings growth. EA CEO Andrew Wilson specifically pointed to EA Sports FC 25 as underperforming.
Despite the company’s concerns, Dragon Age: The Veilguard still managed to engage 1.5 million players during the quarter, down nearly 50% from projections. However, it is unclear if this number includes unit sales or free trial users.
The game’s launch was relatively successful, debuting at No.6 on Circana’s charts for top-selling games in the US. Nevertheless, analysts like Mat Piscatella of Circana warned that Dragon Age: The Veilguard faces a tough road ahead, citing lower-than-expected sales and engagement levels compared to other recent releases.
The game’s struggles are not new, with reports of development challenges, layoffs, and departures of key personnel. The company has already taken steps to address the issue by offering significant discounts for Cyber Monday.
Overall, EA’s revised outlook highlights the challenges facing its global football division and underperforming games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/dragon-age-the-veilguard-had-15-million-players-in-first-two-months-ea-expected-3-million