At that new office they just opened they really need to hire someone who's whole job is just communications, or some kind of dedicated dev to EA community liaison. I'm sure the pandemic has created many unforseen challenges that are contributing to delays and managed expectations. I'd almost rather watch an hour long stream of some random rank and file dev discussing that sort of stuff than watch the CEO play lol. I'm not sure putting the chief up front is really the best approach, since it just kind of turns him into a lightning rod for whatever ire is sweeping through the halls at the moment. These forums could also use a revamp for sure, (the load time is very slow and it lacks the functionality of other similar spots). Even if things are moving away from forums to stuff like discord these days, their home turf feels a bit neglected.
Usually the house forums are more for boosters and keeping a generally upbeat tone, but they've kind of allowed this place to get mired in negativity by not attending to it. Maybe that was a given, cause we're all old d&d curmudgeons who will gripe and dive off the deep end at the first opportunity hehe. But I think they could have shored that up a bit more, even if just by providing something else to concentrate on the daily. My disappointment was pretty foreseeable since they're trying to make a follow up to my favorite game ever, playing around with the limited wish on that one. But still they could be doing more to take stock of their returning fanbase. I'd have thrown 60 bucks at just about anybody based purely on the tease of a BG3 possibility. But now that its real, the next 60 is a tougher sell. I don't think I'd be hopping into another EA anytime soon. Its like all the wait and see downsides of a kickstarter campaign, but without the upside of feeling particularly special or involved for jumping in early lol.
I still hope for the best and a long long period of development before its released, but that's mainly because my sunk costs on this one are strenching put into decades now. I want it to be glorious in part to help justify how big a deal I've made it in my head hehe
