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[cormack12]

Source: https://www.thegamer.com/dragon-age-the-veilguard-emmrich-josephine-writer-leaves-bioware/

Sylvia Feketekuty announced on her Bluesky account that she is departing BioWare. Her statement reads, "Hey everyone: sorry I've been quiet on here. Was busy with a big decision, namely deciding to leave BioWare. I'll really, really miss working with everyone there. But after 15 years, it just feels like a good time for a break. If/when I've something noteworthy lined up, I'll mention it here."

As Feketekuty mentioned in her post, she's been working with BioWare for 15 years. She worked on Mass Effect 2's Lair of the Shadow Broker expansion, Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Anthem and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Feketekuty is credited as the primary writer for Dragon Age: Inquisition's Josephine and The Veilguard's Emmrich. She's been more prominent in fan discussions as of late as Emmrich is considered by many to be the best-written companion in a game that's received plenty of criticism for the quality of its writing.

In a Reddit thread by turtar_mara regarding her departure, fans shared praise and kind words for the writer's work. "She was the star of Veilguard, she will be missed," writes smolperson. Others have praised Feketekuty's work on the game's codex entries, which often felt closer to the series' roots than the game's dialogue and narrative.


Sounds like all these studios are just replacing the experienced staff with the new guard and the new guard isn't up to it.

 

[ungalo]

She's been more prominent in fan discussions as of late as Emmrich is considered by many to be the best-written companion in a game that's received plenty of criticism for the quality of its writing.

That means it would probably be a mediocre character in a normal game.

 

[Kacho]

But after 15 years, it just feels like a good time for a break.

Interesting timing. I wonder if she would feel the same if the game was received better.

 

[Nickolaidas]

Interesting timing. I wonder if she would feel the same if the game was received better.

Whatever the reason, Veilguard is in her resume now.

 

[Hookshot]

I heard she asked for her wage to be paid from a percentage of each copy sold so now she needs a different job.

 

[SlimySnake]

Bye Felicia.

Emmrich was trash like the rest of them.

 

[mitch1971]

" If/when I've something noteworthy lined up, I'll mention it here."

Would it not be easier and quicker to just phone her parents?

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Did she do the push up thing on her way out?

 

[Fbh]

The fact she has a Bluesky account tells me it probably isn't a huge loss for the writing team

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Good. Now she can go pull a barv.

 

[Gorilla Shark]

Thanks for the heads up.

If I need to hire someone to write a story that combines dragons and mental illness I’ll be sure to reach out.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

is the director going to "leave" soon?

 

[PanzerCute]

I would be curious to know the percentage of their employees that have been there for more than 5/10 years to be honest.

Not that I have the slightest interest in their game since Inquisition (which was dog shit imo)

 

[sloppyjoe_gamer]

Well, like it or not, Veilguard is a part of her resume going forward. Own that shit woman

 

[Unknown Soldier]

The fact that she was one of the people who self-deported to Bluehair is all we need to know about her

 

[Dr.Morris79]

The fact she has a Bluesky account tells me it probably isn't a huge loss for the writing team

Glad I wasn't alone in thinking/knowing that.

 

[Soodanim]

Whatever the reason, Veilguard is in her resume now.

Does pleading the 5th extend to job interviews when being asked about previous experience?

"Tell us about your most recent project and how that went"

 

[stn]

I don't think she left, sounds like she's being let go. People rarely quit until they have something else lined up.

 

[ReBurn]

Smart move leaving before the firings on the writing team begin.

 

[Superkewl]

The fact she announced her departure via Blusesky rather than twitter tells me everything I need to know about her.

 

[LectureMaster]

Like mice flee a sinking ship first, right?

 

[Plague Doctor]

Leaving after writing one of the boldest and most stunning game stories ever?

That's like 50 barves.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

They have writers?

 

[yogaflame]

Anticipating massive firing?

 

[SJRB]

announced on her Bluesky

 

[Decal4]

Bluehair... Here I am thinking I was the only one, apparently I have found my people!

 

[wipeout364]

If she was involved in Anthem that’s all I need to know. Absolute trash story worst part of the game.

 

[Sharius]

The fact she has a Bluesky account tells me it probably isn't a huge loss for the writing team

Lmao, true, can't take these bluesky peep serious nowaday

 

[simpatico]

This is why games don't make money. How is it someone's job to write one character. I feel like you can bang that out in a long weekend with enough coffee and pizza. Inquisition wasn't exactly Shakesperean prose. More like a cable TV fantasy mini series. I promise that did not require the full-time attention of a salaried adult. Get one guy to write the whole damn thing. What the hell is wrong with you EA?

"Oh let's all meet and talk about what we wrote for our characters this week". Holy fuck you know they had/have these meetings. If we ever get a full autopsy on what these publishers were spending money on, it's going to be insane. Millions on meetings just like that. Bros we might not be able to save the medium. Just, prepare for that as a possibility.

 

[EverydayBeast]

BioWare is a company that can destroy itself (andromeda) but before the shit storm comes, I don’t believe in one company having the same person at the head forever eventually a company has new developers, writers and characters.

 

[Trilobit]

Whatever the reason, Veilguard is in her resume now.

"So we see there's a blank space here for some years on your resume"
"Yeah, I was doing very hard drugs at the time and I was in jail for kicking a puppy"
"Really? Because we heard you worked on Concor-"
"Nope, I was kicking puppies!"

 

[Gojiira]

I mean…Who cares? She worked on all the worst games from Bioware, such searing talent, truly a loss…Gtfo of here…

 

[JohnnyFootball]

The fact she has a Bluesky account tells me it probably isn't a huge loss for the writing team

what writing team? The entire story was written by AI using prompts approved by HR

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Edit: Didn't see thread, sorry dorry for bump.

Looks like the rest of the studio responsible for Veilguard right behind her?

 

[Randall365]

Back to screaming in fields then.

The games market is correcting itself.

 

[Optimus Lime]

Important and powerful endorsement from 'smolperson'.

What is this shit?

 

[Hudo]

Edit: Didn't see thread, sorry dorry for bump.

Looks like the rest of the studio responsible for Veilguard right behind her?

I can't believe that I am happy about EA shutting down a studio, but here we are.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

is the director going to "leave" soon?

Well...

 

[UnrealEck]

Having a BlueSky account is like having pronouns in your social media bio.

 

[Mozzarella]

I hope she doesn't join good studios because that will ruin them, should've stayed at Bioware tbh, thats a good place for them.

 

[TheStam]

Don't know about her, but I can imagine it must be very constraining to write a character for a game with this overall tone and vision, even if you're a good writer. I mean you can't just come back with a more complex or darker Avellone-like character like let's say Durance from Pillars of Eternity and drop it in this game. The Director wouldn't have it, it would stick out like a sore thumb.

Regarding Emmrich. I guess the outline of his story arc was at least a bit interesting, that's as far as I would go. In the end it was just another vanilla child-like personality with boring things to say in a sea of mediocrity. Nothing to write home about.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Edit: Didn't see thread, sorry dorry for bump.

Looks like the rest of the studio responsible for Veilguard right behind her?

They're all off to the Xbox division, to help

 

[Roman Empire]

Next to bite the dust if things keep going like this should be Naughty Dog and CDPR.

 

[RCX]

Maybe EA have decided to let an AI have a crack at writing the next one (Couldn't be any worse right?!) so they're "suggesting" that these writing staff should "move on"?

 

[Gonzito]

Even the cleaning lady is leaving Bioware

 

[spookyfish]

Well, she can answer the interview question "Tell me about something that didn't go according to expectations, and how you worked it out."

"My employer and I decided I should leave."

 

[MayauMiao]

"She was the star of Veilguard, she will be missed,"

I wonder if this a subtle way to point the finger to the source of their failure.

 

[neocycle]

Good riddance.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Honestly I don't think Bioware is going to last for much longer.

Andromeda, Anthem, Veilguard... How many flops until a company's gone?

Man do I hope Exodus is a good game. We need another company capable of developing those cool PS360 era RPG-lite games like Dragon Age or Mass Effect.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Honestly I don't think Bioware is going to last for much longer.

Andromeda, Anthem, Veilguard... How many flops until a company's gone?

Man do I hope Exodus is a good game. We need another company capable of developing those cool PS360 era RPG-lite games like Dragon Age or Mass Effect.

Mass Effect is pretty much their last shot, so I'm going to assume Bioware will be gone in a few years.