Dragon Age: The Veilguard
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dragon Age: The Veilguard across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Ex-BioWare designer says doom and gloom about the next Mass Effect is overstated: 'I think that they can do…
Former BioWare designer Armando Troisi believes skepticism surrounding the next Mass Effect game is overstated, asserting that the studio excels at single-player, narrative-driven RPGs when left to their own devices. He suggests that the studio needs to return to its core formula, free from the pressures of live-service development and external stakeholders, to recapture its former glory.
BioWare doesn't need advice for Mass Effect 4, says veteran designer, as long as "people get out of the way"
Veteran designer Armando Troisi believes BioWare's current team, which includes many original developers, doesn't need outside advice for the next Mass Effect game. He emphasizes that allowing the creators to work without interference is key to producing the magic they are known for, particularly in single-player, narrative-driven RPGs.
Mass Effect 5 will be great as long as executives "get out of the way," says former designer: "We're…
Former BioWare designer Armando Troisi believes Mass Effect 5 can be a great game if executives allow developers creative freedom. However, concerns are high due to Electronic Arts' recent executive decisions, including the handling of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Anthem, and a significant buyout involving Saudi Arabia and private equity.
Former Dragon Age lead says Baldur's Gate 3 studio Larian is taking a "risk" by making Divinity right after its 2023 RPG hit, but he applauds the devs for it
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah believes Larian Studios is taking a calculated risk by focusing on a new Divinity game immediately after the success of Baldur's Gate 3. He applauds Larian's strategy of focusing on one project at a time, contrasting it with BioWare's past issues of juggling multiple series.
Former EA manager will "believe" the next Mass Effect is happening "when I see it" after $55 billion acquisition: "They can pull the plug very, very easily"
A former EA manager, Emmanuel Rosier, expressed skepticism about the future of Mass Effect 5 following Electronic Arts' acquisition by private investors. Rosier, now with Newzoo, stated that EA could easily cancel the project, especially if the new investors prioritize financial decisions over the studio's history. He noted that BioWare has struggled in recent years and that games can take a very long time to develop, citing Dragon Age: The Veilguard's lengthy development.
RPG companions need to be hateable, otherwise nobody's going to love them
This opinion piece argues that RPG companion characters should be intentionally flawed and even unlikeable to create more compelling storytelling and deeper player attachment. The author uses examples from Baldur's Gate 3, highlighting how Gale's 'petty' reaction to criticism makes him more three-dimensional, contrasting this with the blandness of characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The article suggests that imperfections in characters mirror real-life relationships, fostering a sense of realism and immersion for players.
Dragon Age was always "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" in EA's eyes, former BioWare lead argues
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah argues that Electronic Arts never truly understood the Dragon Age franchise, viewing it as "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" compared to Mass Effect. This alleged misunderstanding led to reported corporate intervention and development shifts, including the eventual reboot of Dragon Age 4 into what became Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly did not meet sales expectations.
EA’s Saudi takeover will be "a real waste" if it turns the publishers into a "sequel-and-mega-franchise machine", Helldivers 2 studio boss says
Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, expressed concern that Electronic Arts' recent $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabian investors could lead the publisher to focus solely on sequels and mega-franchises, potentially wasting its diverse game catalog. He hopes for continued business and creative diversity within EA, despite the consolidation and significant debt incurred by the deal, which may lead to cost-cutting measures and layoffs.
EA is now a private company, with stakeholders that include Saudi's PIF and Affinity Partners
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company following a $55 billion buyout, with stakeholders including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners. This deal, the second largest in gaming history, has raised concerns regarding human rights and LGBTQ+ issues due to the nature of some investors. The future of EA's franchises and potential company restructuring remain uncertain.
An All-Digital Future Isn’t The Only Threat To Video Game Preservation
Dragon Age creator Mark Darrah explains that remasters of the first three Dragon Age games are unlikely due to a lack of developers familiar with BioWare's proprietary Aurora engine. This contrasts with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which benefited from using the more common Unreal Engine. Darrah also reveals his past plans for a "Champion's Edition" trilogy, which were hampered by studio layoffs and internal disagreements at BioWare.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Could Make RPG Choices Matter Again
The Blood of Dawnwalker aims to revitalize choice and consequence in open-world action RPGs, a feature many recent titles have lacked. Developed by Rebel Wolves, featuring veterans from CD Projekt RED, the game emphasizes meaningful player decisions that impact the narrative, drawing comparisons to classics like Fallout and The Witcher 3. The game is set to launch on September 3rd and promises a 50-hour playthrough with a focus on replayability and player agency.
The great RPG debate: Do RPGs really need romanceable companions?
This opinion piece debates whether romanceable companions are a necessary feature in role-playing games. While BioWare's legacy has popularized the trope, the article argues that its inclusion can sometimes lead to formulaic design and wish fulfillment, contrasting it with more nuanced approaches seen in games like Baldur's Gate 3.
Dragon Age's former producer had envisioned a 'Champions Edition' equivalent to Mass Effect's Legendary Edition, but he doesn't think it will happen anymore: 'There are basically no companies that could help you'
Former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah believes a "Champion's Edition" remaster for the Dragon Age series is unlikely due to technical challenges. Unlike the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which benefited from using the consistent Unreal Engine, the Dragon Age games were built on different, now poorly understood, proprietary engines. Darrah suggests that EA's reluctance to form new teams for such projects further diminishes the possibility of a remaster.
Another BioWare veteran steps forth to say a Dragon Age remaster isn't impossible, but that doesn't mean it will happen: "In no means a trivial exercise"
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster believes that remastering the original Dragon Age games is possible, though it would be a complex undertaking. However, Mark Darrah, who co-directed Dragon Age: Origins, expressed skepticism, citing a lack of current BioWare staff familiar with the old engine and publisher Electronic Arts' tendency to keep IPs dormant.
"Basically no one at BioWare" knows how Dragon Age works anymore, says studio veteran, so don't expect a remaster like Mass Effect's even if one would sell "super well"
Former BioWare director Mark Darrah stated that a remaster of the original Dragon Age trilogy is unlikely due to significant technical challenges and a lack of studio expertise with the older engines. Unlike the Mass Effect trilogy, which used Unreal Engine, the Dragon Age games utilize outdated proprietary engines that few at BioWare understand anymore. Despite potential sales success, especially after the popularity of Baldur's Gate 3, the development hurdles and the underwhelming performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard make such a project improbable.
"Dragon Age: Origins wasn’t the most attractive game": BioWare's old series producer still thinks a DA remaster trilogy is worth it, but the knowhow isn't there
Former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah believes a remaster trilogy of the original games would sell well, but acknowledges the technical challenges. He cites the proprietary Eclipse and Lycium engines used in the early titles, contrasting them with the more industry-standard Unreal Engine used for Mass Effect. Darrah also notes that expertise on these older BioWare engines is scarce within the company and externally, making such a project difficult to undertake.
BioWare Lost The Knowledge Needed To Remaster Dragon Age, Former Producer Says
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah stated that a remaster of the Dragon Age trilogy is unlikely because the studio has lost the necessary institutional knowledge to work with the original games' engines. Unlike the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which benefited from the common Unreal Engine 3, the Dragon Age games utilized proprietary engines for which few, if any, developers at BioWare remain knowledgeable. This comes amidst reports of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's poor commercial performance and potential future sale of BioWare by Electronic Arts.
Mark Darrah thinks that Dragon Age is dead. If it ever were to continue, it needs to be reset
Former BioWare developer Mark Darrah believes the Dragon Age franchise is likely finished due to Electronic Arts' mismanagement and lack of clear direction. Despite the commercial failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the article argues that a reset or even letting the franchise go might be beneficial, drawing parallels to the success of Baldur's Gate 3 in proving the viability of long, deep RPGs.
EA is 'a hedge fund with a videogame hobby,' former Dragon Age boss says, and that's why he reckons the…
Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah believes Electronic Arts' (EA) complicated relationship with shipping games makes a new Dragon Age title unlikely. He described EA as a "hedge fund with a videogame hobby" and noted that even if another studio pitched a new game, internal politics at EA would likely prevent it. Former lead writer David Gaider added that EA executives may not understand the franchise's appeal, deeming it non-essential.
Dragon Age: Thedas at War is a BioWare RPG-inspired Crusader Kings 3 total conversion mod that's here to keep the series alive while it sits in EA limbo
A total conversion mod for Crusader Kings 3, titled Dragon Age: Thedas at War, has been released by BioWare fans. This mod allows players to experience the Dragon Age universe by managing kingdoms, waging wars, and engaging in politics within Thedas. It features Dragon Age-specific cultures, religions, and the ability to play as a mage, with ongoing plans for further content additions.
