Perhaps David Gaider needs no introduction, but the former lead narrative designer and writer behind the Dragon Age franchise during his time at BioWare, who has since gone on to co-found Summerfall Studios, had some rather choice words for generative AI. They're words I'm sure many of us can agree with.

In an interview with our sister site GamesRadar+, Gaider pulled no punches when sharing his thoughts on generative AI, describing it as a "virulent plague." However, he also offers an interesting perspective, and one I think many people, especially executives, should pay attention to.

“I think the fact that generative AI is frequently trained on data regardless of whether creators or owners have agreed to have their data pillaged in this manner opens up any use of it to all sorts of future legal issues - even if one chooses to ignore the moral implications, which one really shouldn't.”

Ethical concerns surrounding how AI is trained have existed (and been studied) for quite some time. It's also true that many AI models have been trained on data that critics argue was used without permission. However, these aren't the comments I found most thought-provoking. Instead, it's Gaider's view of AI as a tool, and his belief that it's robbing people of valuable opportunities to learn and develop essential skills.

Gaider says:

“In all my time as a narrative designer I've never once encountered a situation where editing an inferior product took less time than simply throwing it out and redoing it would have or resulted in anything better than mediocre. And while there's potential for AI handling the drudgery, I also think we have to be very careful about not eliminating every task which is useful for training juniors. How are we going to train up the next generation of devs if we eliminate every entry-level task?”

That part in particular that resonated with me. I remember doing my Master’s degree around the time ChatGPT started to exist, and I remember sitting behind people in lectures watching them use it to answer questions. While I absolutely think AI can be a useful tool, it increasingly feels like it's being used to replace our ability to think critically and learn. Even something as simple as researching a topic and finding the answers yourself is beginning to feel like a lost art.

Now, I know Gaider's comments aren't necessarily about AI's broader use in education or everyday life, but it's hard, at least for me, not to draw those comparisons when reading what he had to say.

Gaider also expanded on his thoughts, stating:

“I can't even imagine using it for bigger tasks like programming. How does one bug fix 'vibe coding'? What's the point of creating prototypes with AI when the result is that nobody on the team has actually learned anything about how to make the final product? Why use AI to create concepts which are inevitably going to be soulless and contain errors and which aren't going to be something your own artists can replicate? Why have systems that nobody on your team really knows how they work? I could go on and on.”

Again, it echoes the same concern. If AI is being used in the way Gaider describes, people simply aren't learning. They could end up with a pile of code they don't fully understand, making it much harder to troubleshoot or improve later. I also think that idea extends well beyond programming. It can apply to almost any medium where AI is doing the work for you.

I'm guilty of it myself. I'll sometimes use AI to help me cook something new, and admittedly, I often leave the kitchen realizing I don't actually remember how to recreate the recipe on my own. That may simply be because I'm using it as a set of instructions rather than actively learning the process, but it's a loose comparison that came to mind while reading Gaider's comments.

I'll leave you with Gaider's most striking thoughts on how AI should be treated within the gaming industry: "It should be treated like the virulent plague it is."

I could rant even more given the current state of the industry, but alas, I'd definitely recommend checking out Gaider's last game, Malys. Let me know your thoughts in the comments; I'd genuinely love to discuss this one, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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If you’re a fan of BioWare’s classic Dragon Age franchise, hoping for a remaster or Dragon Age: Origins, then I’m afraid I’ve got bad news.

During a recent interview with MrMattyPlays on YouTube, former BioWare developer Mark Darrah revealed that the studio once had plans to remaster the first three Dragon Age games as part of a new “Champions Trilogy” bundle.

This remastered collection of Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and Dragon Age: Inquisition would rekindle fans’ interest in the franchise and introduce newcomers who never got to play the original titles.

However, none of these ideas are coming to fruition as Mark Darrah confirms that EA (Electronic Arts) rejected them, stating that the company has “historically been kind of against remasters”.

Instead, fans were treated to Dragon Age: Veilguard, a new entry in the series which was met with very mixed reviews (ranging from positive, like our review of Dragon Age: Veilguard, to extremely negative) and financial failure as it failed to meet EA’s sales expectations by half.

Dragon Age wasn’t the only franchise that suffered from having its ideas rejected by EA. Mark Darrah also confirmed that the ill-fated Mass Effect: Andromeda had plans for a DLC expansion involving the Quarian race, but they were cancelled by EA before they could take off.

Darrah also mentioned that "there was strong pressure from forces outside BioWare to release the people in Montreal working on [Mass Effect: Andromeda]."

Dragon Age Remasters would be easy money, yet EA is content with watching money burn

Personally, I don’t know what EA is thinking, rejecting the idea of remastering the Dragon Age games.

Darrah’s statement about EA rejecting remasters points to how hypocritical EA is, as the publisher is perfectly okay with publishing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, a next-gen remaster of the original Mass Effect trilogy.

Remasters of classic games have, more often than not, proven to be huge financial successes as Bethesda Softwork’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered can attest to.

It was the best-selling game of April 2025, garnered a swath of generally positive reviews, and gathered over 4 million players shortly after its shadowdrop launch on April 22, 2025.

It would be easy money for EA and BioWare to remaster the original Dragon Age trilogy with improved graphics and framerates, quality-of-life and controller improvements, and other features to reignite interest in the Dragon Age franchise, much like how the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition did for Mass Effect.

With this behind-the-scenes reveal from Mark Darrah, that’s likely not going to happen now any time soon or ever, considering how Dragon Age: Veilguard failed to meet EA’s sales goals.

Also, EA has a nasty habit of letting its franchises that aren’t Mass Effect, Battlefield, or its multitude of sports games languish in limbo. Just look at Dead Space, or games like Dante’s Inferno or Anthem, that were killed off before they could reach their full potential.

It’s sad to see how far BioWare has fallen these past couple of decades as Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect were some of the best RPGs ever produced for the Xbox 360, and that’s without mentioning its earlier classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, or Jade Empire.

Yet, ever since the controversial ending of Mass Effect 3, the studio has slipped, producing mixed titles that strayed further from the studio’s RPG roots and never recovered, especially with EA holding them back.

However, despite my harsh feelings towards EA, the publisher can allow its developers’ creativity to shine and properly fund their ideas when push comes to shove.

Case in point being the upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title, Battlefield 6 developed by a coalition of DICE, Ripple Effect Studios, Criterion Games, and Motive Studio; Ridgeline Games developers known as Battlefield Studios.

This upcoming shooter is shaping up to be one of Battlefield’s best entries with bigger scale battles, combat, and environmental destruction than ever. It’s gaining so much traction that the Battlefield 6 Beta alone beat Call of Duty’s all-time concurrent Steam player record with over 500,000 players.

So, if given the incentive, EA is capable of letting BioWare pull off a Dragon Age remaster collection or even give the developer the funding to make a full-blown remake of Dragon Age: Origins.

Whether or not EA is willing to let BioWare do that is another story, but I would like to be surprised and proven wrong. I have fond memories of playing Dragon Age: Origins when I was younger — battling the Darkspawn to save the land of Ferelden and forging friendships with intriguing characters like Morrigan and Shale the Golem.

I would love to see the Dragon Age games remastered and see BioWare return to its classic CRPG roots.

If that doesn’t happen, then at least we have other, newer, modern studios to carry on BioWare’s spiritual torch, like Owlcat Games with their Warhammer 40,000 RPGs like Rogue Trader and Dark Heresy, and Larian Studios with Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity Original Sin, to name a few.

Publisher Electronic Arts (EA) and developer BioWare's latest role-playing game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, grabbed around 1.5 million players, but missed EA's expectations by almost 50%. That comes via a preliminary earnings report from EA, sharing details on its performance for the third fiscal quarter.

We're still a few days out from EA's full financial results for the quarter, which will be shared on Feb. 4, 2025. EA expects a "mid-single-digit decline," and in addition to Dragon Age, the company blamed EA Sports FC 25 for underperforming.

"During Q3, we continued to deliver high-quality games and experiences across our portfolio; however, Dragon Age and EA SPORTS FC 25 underperformed our net bookings expectations,” said EA CEO Andrew Wilson. “This month, our teams delivered a comprehensive gameplay refresh in addition to our annual Team of the Year update in FC 25; positive player feedback and early results are encouraging. We remain confident in our long-term strategy and expect a return to growth in FY26, as we execute against our pipeline.”

Launching in October 2024, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was the long-awaited fourth entry in the Dragon Age franchise, coming a decade after 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition. As Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn't included in any game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass on consoles, though it is included in EA Play Pro on PC.

Single-player games face an uphill battle

This news is certainly disappointing for Dragon Age fans, especially since the wait for The Veilguard was so long. The fourth entry in the fantasy series was rebooted multiple times across the years, with different directors joining and leaving the project at BioWare. At one point, the game was even engineered as a live service title before being again rebooted into a single-player adventure.

As more and more of players' time is sucked up by a handful of live service games, it's harder and harder for new games to break out as huge successes. In 2023, the only single-player game to crack the top ten most-played games was Starfield. I've previously written about the threat of "black hole" titles when discussing gaming trends in 2024, and it's a problem that doesn't have an easy solution.

I recently replayed every Dragon Age game while writing a recap of the story so far, and having that comparison in mind was interesting heading into The Veilguard. In my review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I wrote that "The combat is wildly different and the tone varies, but the characters here are the same vital, meaningful core that BioWare is known to deliver. While far removed in many ways from the fantasy franchise I grew up loving, Dragon Age: The Veilguard takes its place by prior adventures in Thedas with pride."

Looking ahead, BioWare is now working on a fifth Mass Effect game, which is being built by a team using Unreal Engine 5. This game is still fairly early in development, and is not expected to release in the next couple of years. Elsewhere at EA, multiple studios are working on the next Battlefield game.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

Sure, elven gods threaten the world of Thedas, but that doesn't mean hearts shouldn't be set a-flutter.

Romance is an integral part of BioWare's role-playing games, and the studio's latest fantasy title, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, is no exception. While many things are the same, there's also some changes this time around, with a couple of key factors to keep in mind before you embark on your latest quest across Thedas. Don't worry, I've got you covered. Here's everything you need to know about romance options in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard general romance information

As you'd expect, there's some general romantic advice that'll apply across all your companions. The emphasis is on all, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the first-ever BioWare game to let you romance every single character in your party, regardless of gender or orientation.

Thanks to some explicit indicators, it's harder than ever for you to misunderstood what dialogue options will and won't help you pursue a romance. The heart icon indicates that you are flirting, which you'll need to do repeatedly in order to garner a companion's interest.

You'll also need to raise your companion's relationship level, which can easily be seen on their equipment screen. For example, when first recruited, Taash's amusingly says "Here."

This title can change over time as your relationship improves, regardless of whether or not you're in a romance with a specific character. In order to increase this relationship value, you'll need to bring your companion along on various quests. You can also massively increase this ranking by doing your companion's specific personal quests, as well as buying them a gift suited to their tastes. Gifts always generate a quest for the companion they're meant for, so it's not possible for anything here to get mixed up.

Eventually, you'll get specific text in the dialogue wheel informing you that a chosen dialogue option will begin to pursue a romance with a companion, but not necessarily lock others out. Continue to flirt and raise the companion's relationship level, and you'll get a dialogue option that will lock you into a romance with that specific character, meaning all others are cut off. Again, as long as you read the description of a dialogue choice, it's impossible to make a mistake here.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Specific companion info

Now I'm moving on to information that's only important for one particular companion. To be clear, given the nature of this information and how it's inconvenient to try talking about how certain choices impact certain characters, there are some MASSIVE SPOILERS ahead.

Seriously, unless you are okay with having parts of the game spoiled in order to ensure your love interest makes it through, come back to this section later. If you don't want to be spoiled, do not keep scrolling!

Last chance.

Still here? Alright, let's go.

Lace Harding romance guide

Harding is mostly a straightforward romance, and you shouldn't have any problems connecting with everyone's favorite dwarven scout as long as you flirt continuously and eventually commit to her.

That changes in the endgame, where you're presented with the choice of having Harding or Davrin lead a second team against the Antaam. Whoever you pick will die, so you need to pick Davrin if you want to have a romantic evening with Harding before the final battle.

Neve Gallus romance guide

There are, unfortunately, multiple ways to miss out on this Tevinter ice mage. At the end of the game's first act, you're presented with the choice of saving Treviso or Minrathous, with whichever city you don't aid suffering terribly from the effects of a Blighted dragon.

If you want to romance Neve, you need to save Minrathous. Otherwise, she'll become Hardened, making her difficult to raise approval for and throwing cold water on any amorous ambitions.

Next up, in the endgame, you'll be faced with a choice of having Neve or Bellara bring down some magical barriers so the team can continue. Whoever you pick is kidnapped, so if you want to have a romantic evening with Neve, you'll need to pick Bellara.

Bellara Lutare romance guide

This perky elven explorer is fairly easy to romance right up until the endgame. At that point, you will have to choose between having her and Neve bring down a magic barrier. Assuming you want to complete the romance before the final battle, you'll need to pick Neve, as whoever you pick is kidnapped.

Lucanis Dellamorte romance guide

The big stumbling block to romancing Lucanis comes at the end of the game's first act, where Rook has to choose between defending Treviso or Minrathous. If you want to romance Lucanis, you have to save Treviso. Otherwise, Lucanis is Hardened and any romantic inclinations are snuffed out.

Davrin romance guide

For most of the game, you won't have any problems romancing this stoic Grey Warden and adopted griffin father.

As with Harding, an issue does raise its head in the endgame. When you are forced to pick between Davrin and Harding to lead a team, you'll want to pick Harding, as whoever is leading this team will die. This way, you'll still have a romantic evening before the final battle.

Emmrich Volkarin romance guide

This necromancer is getting up there in years and is concerned about his legacy beyond death, but he's fortunately quite a straightforward romance, with no major stumbling blocks to hit.

Taash romance guide

As a Qunari monster slayer of multiple cultures, Taash has a lot of internal issues to sort through. They're still easy to romance though, with no major pitfalls that to worry over.

In my review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I wrote that "The story (while intriguing) doesn't always give its earth-shattering reveals time to marinate or focus. At its heart, however, is a cast of characters among BioWare's finest, with bonds that carry this new journey to greatness. "

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

Two years after its introduction as "Dreadwolf" and a full decade after the release of 2014's award-winning Dragon Age: Inquisition, we've finally gotten a follow-up in the form of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. It's BioWare's first new single player RPG since the 2017's controversial Mass Effect: Andromeda, and also its first original title to follow the ill-fated multiplayer sci-fi game Anthem.

Thus far, The Veilguard has performed strongly, with the game passing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 sales on Steam's Top Sellers chart and over 70,000 players kicking off their fantasy adventure in Thedas directly after its launch (console metrics aren't available yet, but I expect them to be similarly positive). I've gotten deep into a playthrough myself for coverage purposes, and while I agree with the general consensus that it's a good game overall (I love the combat), I have found one aspect of it to be quite disappointing: the writing.

I came into the game as a longtime fan of BioWare and its classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect trilogy, and above all else, what gripped me about those games was how deep and rich their stories were. Conversations with and between companions and NPCs could last upwards of 30 minutes and had wide varieties of dialogue options to pick from, with speech decisions having a major impact on everything from major plot developments to the way you're treated by individual characters. Their worlds felt dynamic, reactive, and alive — far more tangible and real than many RPG settings that came after, despite visuals considered dated by today's standards.

Not so with Dragon Age: The Veilguard. If I had to describe its script with one word, it would be "smooth" — devoid of friction, rough edges, and interesting texture. It calls your average Marvel film to mind, giving players lots of banter to smile at, flashy action to enjoy, and vibrant high fantasy landscapes to bask in, but very little narrative depth beneath its flashy surface.

Two elven gods threatening to end the world seems like something that should drive some tension, but you'd hardly know it's happening with how aggressively positive most of your party members are, with moments of gravity or conflict between characters often resolved in what feels like the blink of an eye. It's as if the game is afraid to let you engage with strife of any kind and is hellbent on making sure you like everyone. And I do! I like all of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard companions, because they're very nice. But because they never really push back against you, each other, or the world around them, they're dreadfully boring and woefully static, and I haven't developed a meaningful connection to any of them.

It's an issue made glaringly apparent by the Baldur's Gate 3 replay I'm 60 hours into right now. In that game, characters like Astarion, Lae'zel, and Shadowheart aren't afraid to question decisions and often react to events that occur around them, leading to worldview debates and insightful discussions about their beliefs and pasts. Those dialogues kickstart lengthy character arcs that culminate in instances of significant change or growth, and that's the kind of richness I crave in RPGs; playing through The Veilguard just made me hungry to get back to Faerûn, as a result.

The problem extends to Rook — the character you play through the game as — as well. Each dialogue choice presents you with a handful of different options, including optimistic, emotional, witty, aggressive, and gruff responses. The overarching tone of all your speech, though, is heroic, which makes it hard to actually roleplay in the roleplaying game if you want to be anything other than a generic Good Guy™.

To be clear, I don't think The Veilguard's writing is bad; it's certainly a big step up from the cringey campiness of Andromeda, and it does a great job of making lots of your plot-relevant decisions — both big and small — actually have a lot of impact on how the story unfolds. But while it may be decent, it doesn't live up to the lofty expectations many (myself included) have for BioWare.

Perhaps some of my feelings stem from the fact that I'm coming into Dragon Age as a newcomer with The Veilguard, and don't have a connection with its returning characters. I've seen similar criticisms come from big fans of the series, though, and I'd argue these issues are independent of having legacy context, anyway.

Ultimately, there's just not much in the writing you can really sink your teeth into, and that's a bummer considering this is BioWare we're talking about. I've stopped trying and have opted to just enjoy it for the playable action-packed popcorn flick that it is, but I hope future titles like the next Mass Effect can satisfy on a deeper level.

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Sometimes you need a total makeover.

Even with a character creator as powerful as the one in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it's possible to make mistakes or realize you want to go for a different look. Fortunately, long gone are the days where making a mistake or 10 in the Dragon Age character creation process meant you were condemned to a playthrough with the Missing Link as your avatar.

Changing your character's appearance after you've started the game is now a fairly common feature in most big role-playing games, and BioWare's latest fantasy title is no exception. Just as important is the ability to change how your style looks in action while still using the best gear, making a transmog system extremely beneficial. Here's how to change your appearance in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — How to change your appearance

How to change your appearance

After you've customized your player character Rook, choosing one of four races, three classes, and a starting faction, you'll be set loose into the game. From here, you won't be able to change your character's appearance for a brief amount of time. You need to complete the game's prologue section, playing through the point where you arrive at the Lighthouse for the first time.

The Lighthouse is your home base in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, as it's where you'll have conversations with your companions, pursuing romance and discussing plans for stopping the returned elven gods. It's also where you can change your appearance.

Simply navigate to the upper floor of the main hallway, then head into the same room where Varric is resting. From there, interact with the Mirror of Transformation and you'll be able to change how you look. It's important to note that you can cannot change your race or class here, you're only adjusting your character's look.

How to transmog your equipment

You aren't just limited to altering your character's physical appearance in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, as you can also completely transmog your equipment. This way, you can make your gear look a certain way while reaping the benefits of new armor and weapons.

In order to transmog your gear, you'll need to head to the Wardrobe in your room at the Lighthouse. Interact with the Wardrobe, and you'll be able to apply any appearances you've found, bought, or otherwise earned to both Room and the cast of companions. Rook naturally has far more options to choose from, but you can still adjust the appearances of everybody's weapons and armor. This is also where you'll find any promotional appearances, such as the ever-iconic Blood Dragon Armor.

Protect the Veil, save the world

Dragon Age: The Veilguard brings players back to the world of Thedas almost a decade after the last entry in the franchise. With elven gods running amok, Rook has to build a team to keep the continent from falling to blight and ruin.

In my review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I wrote that "Dragon Age: The Veilguard streamlines a number of things, with breakneck pacing and an action-packed focus that makes this game in many ways closer tonally to BioWare's Mass Effect 2 than to other Dragon Age titles. The story (while intriguing) doesn't always give its earth-shattering reveals time to marinate or focus. At its heart, however, is a cast of characters among BioWare's finest, with bonds that carry this new journey to greatness. "

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA App), and PlayStation 5.

There are a grand total of seven companions that you can add to your team in Dragon Age: The Veilguard — two Rogues, two Warriors, and three Mages. However, each one of them has different skills and attack styles. We at Windows Central took time to evaluate each companion and ranked them against each other in terms of how helpful they are in combat and how often they are a good choice to pair with other companions.

While a companion's abilities are important on their own, it's also important to consider your team dynamic when choosing which companions to take with you. So, you should consider which companions help bring out the best in your character. After viewing our Dragon Age: The Veilguard companion tier list, continue to the next sections to learn more about each character and the best companions to pair them with.

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard companion tier list

*This tier list focuses on a companion's effectiveness in combat and their pairing potential with other companions. It is subject to change depending on any patches or updates that might come to the game.

Plan your party around Primers and Detonators

It's easy enough to rank the companions on their own merit. However, an equally, if not more important factor, is how well your party works together. You can have two companions in your party at a time. So, you really want to consider how well they work with your character in regards to Primers and Detonators.

In Dragon Age, a Primer is an ability that can cause additional status effects (sundered, overwhelmed, weakened, etc.) to enemies. Meanwhile, Detonators add to Primers by further affecting enemies who are already feeling status effects. The more you use Primers and Detonators, the faster enemies will get taken down.

Each companion has their own skill tree. Just by going in and looking, you can easily see if an ability Primes or Detonates, and what kind of effects it will have. Remember, you can swap out any companion abilities at any time as long as you aren't currently in battle.

You can learn more about each of the seven companions in the sections below. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Bellara Lutare

Bellara is a delightfully nerdy and creative individual who finds ancient elven objects fascinating.

Since she is a Mage and part of the Veil Jumpers, it's no surprise that she uses her powers to interact with the Fade. In combat, she wields magic to both hamper enemies and boost allies. Electricity is never far from this gal.

I initially thought Bellara would rank higher on our tier list due to her diverse abilities, but when compared against the others, she earns a B rank. She is a Mage who owns a gauntlet that can transition into a bow, so she offers ranged magic and arrow attacks. She's also a bit of a support character, but not nearly as effective as Lace or Emmerich.

Best Companion pairing: Davrin or Lucanis — Bellara isn't the best support character, but having another support character in your party will make the team weak overall. So instead, you need to have a powerful warrior like Davrin or a versatile fighter like Lucanis to best balance your party when Bellara is there.

Abilities: Fade Bolts, Enfeebling Shot, Replenish, Time Slow, Galvanized Tear

Davrin

Like many members of the Grey Wardens, Davrin is a powerful and strong individual both in terms of his battle prowess and personality.

As is common to his class, this Warrior is "fiercely loyal" and wields a sword as well as a really cool-looking shield that features an elaborate griffon emblem on the front. This alludes to his feathery battle companion.

This Warrior's powerful attack style places him squarely in our A rank. As with many tanky characters, Darvin can attract enemies to himself (aggro) and take a decent amount of damage. He also has great stunning abilities to help with crowd control and protecting support characters. Something that makes Davrin stand out from the other companions is that a young griffon named Assan fights alongside him in battle, and the two can be quite the effective pair.

Best Companion pairing: Lace, Emmerich, or Lucanis — With Darvin being a strong melee fighter, it will help to have a support character like Lace or Emmerich to heal him, apply buffs/enemy debuffs, and keep him going. Lucanis is also a bit of a support character for those who want a more versatile companion.

Abilities: Battle Cry | Death from Above | Heroic Strike | Assan Strike | In War, Victory

Emmerich Volkarin

Emmerich is a scholarly Mage who loves to learn more about the Fade.

His particular abilities are in the art of necromancy, but even though he is very skilled at raising the spirits of the dead, he wants to protect people from the occult.

While not the highest place on our tier list, Emmerich earns a very respectable A rank. In battle, this Mage uses his necromantic powers to summon the dead. While under his power, these spirits attack or slow down his enemies. He's also good at healing the companions he fights alongside.

Best Companion pairing: Davrin or a levelled up Taash — With Emmerich being a great support character, he pairs really well with hard-hitting Warriors, especially Davrin. Taash can also be good, but only if you upgrade her enough to make her useful.

Abilities: Final Rites, Replenish, Entangling Spirits, The Bell Tolls, Time Slow

Lace Harding

Lace first appeared as a scout in Dragon Age: Inquisition and soon became a fan-favorite NPC.

Thankfully, in The Veilguard, she's a full-fledged companion. This means she is yet again one of the only romanceable Dwarf women in the series. As a Rogue, Lace uses a bow and arrow to shoot ranged attacks at enemies.

Lace earns a lauded S Rank on our tier list. The reason we ranked Lace so high is that she offers fantastic support, especially as a healer. You'll be able to keep fighting without having to think as much about your health bar with her replenishing your hit points regularly. What's more, she's also good at slowing down enemies with debuffs from afar, so her crowd control skills are also very useful.

Best Companion pairing: Lucanis or Darvin — they'll be able to hit harder and longer with Lace providing support for the three of you. A levelled up Taash can also be good for distracting enemies away from Lace, but you'll need to put the time in for Taash to be a good choice.

Abilities: Seismic Shot, Heavy Draw, Shred, Adrenaline Rush, Soothing Potion

Lucanis Dellamorte

Lucanis is a tortured soul fighting a battle with his own personal demon.

Considering Lucanis is part of the Antivan Crows (an organization filled with assassins, spies, and thieves), it comes as no surprise that he is a master assassin.

Lucanis gains an S rank on our tier list due to his wide range of skills. With a pair of dual-daggers, this masterful Rogue can unleash necrotic attacks on foes. But he's also mindful of his companions, healing and buffing his party members. Best of all, unlike some others on this list, Lucanis feels powerful from the get-go, so you don't have to put as much time in working on their skill tree to make him a strong ally.

Best Companion pairing: Lace or Davrin — Lace's ranged attacks and affinity for healing works extremely well with Lucanis' fast-kill methods. However, if you're mindful of healing, yourself, Davrin's powerful Warrior melee attacks can help Lucanis dominate battles.

Abilities: Eviscerate, Abominate, Soothing Potion, Debilitate, Adrenaline Rush

Neve Gallus

Neve Gallus is a Mage who used her powers to become the most effective private detective in Minrathous.

As a member of The Shadow Dragons, she poignantly opposes slavery and does all she can to fight against any injustices brought about by corrupt leaders in Tevinter. Despite her own magical prowess she doesn't believe Mages are any better than others.

I personally really like the idea of Neve, but as a battle companion, she earns a B rank. During combat, she specializes in ice spells that can slow enemies down for better crowd control. She can also deal a decent amount of damage if you level her up properly.

Best Companion pairing: Darvin, Lucanis, or Lace — Neve can be a tricky one to pair a companion with. On one hand, since she's already putting out debuffs, a powerful Warrior or Rogue will help balance the team's overall effectiveness. That said, if you yourself are playing as a hard-hitting Warrior, then Lace's healing support can be very effective for you all.

Abilities: Icebreaker, Blizzard, Glacial Pace, Time Slow, Replenish

Taash

Tassh is a Warrior and the only companion you can have who is a Qunari.

With her towering height and strong horns, Tassh is arguably the most formidable looking of the group. She is a Warrior who is very skilled at hunting dragons, but that's not surprising, given that she is part of The Lords of Fortune, an adventurous group.

We ranked Taash lowest on our tier list (C rank) because she isn't very viable at the beginning. You'll need to get to a late-game upgrade before she really becomes a strong companion, but others are better right from the start. When it comes to combat, Taash's attack style is much like her personality: blunt and hard. She wields dual-axes in melee combat, but can also breathe fire when fighting foes. Most importantly, she's good at drawing aggro from enemies to keep their attacks away from you and your other companion.

Best Companion pairing: Lace or Emmerich — these two can continue to heal Taash while she distracts enemies for you.

Abilities: Fire Breath, Dragon's Roar, Dragonfire Strike, Spitfire, Fortune's Favor

Choose the right companions for each mission

While each of the Dragon Age: the Veilguard companions has their merits and can be useful in battle, they all have very different abilities and attack styles. Figuring out which characters provide the best support to your own play style is important if you want to play this adventure efficiently.

Since you can have up to two companions with you at a time, you should consider who will work best together and who will provide you with the best perks. Remember, you'll only get the most out of Primer and Detonator status effects if you and your companions have abilities that can be combined or stack together.

If you aren't good at remembering to heal yourself or don't want to bother with thinking about it, then Lace Harding is the ideal healing support companion. Another tactic is to ensure that your party is composed of one of each class, a Mage, a Rogue, and a Warrior. This will balance your team and allow you all to take on a range of enemies together.

What you need to know

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a new action RPG from BioWare and Electronic Arts that's launched today on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Windows PC.
• It's one of 2024's most highly anticipated RPGs, and it's off to a very strong start on PC. Currently, it sits at the top of Steam's revenue-based Top Sellers chart.
• Notably, that means it's currently outperforming the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, knocking it down to second place. I expect the juggernaut FPS title to reclaim its position soon, but even so, The Veilguard's launch day performance on the platform is impressive.
• The Veilguard is the first new Dragon Age game in 10 years, with the last main entry, Inquisition, being a 2014 release. It's also the first single player RPG from BioWare since 2017's Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Most people care about October 31 because it's Halloween — the spookiest of all the holidays, and the one day of the year that cosplaying is universally seen as a cool thing to do. For lots of gamers, though, the thing that actually matters about today is that it's the release date for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a new highly anticipated RPG from BioWare and Electronic Arts. It's the first new game in the beloved fantasy franchise in 10 years, and after waves of "Generally Favorable" reviews earlier this week, it's gotten off to a roaring start on the PC gaming platform Steam.

At the time of writing, the latest Dragon Age title holds the top spot on Steam's revenue-based Top Sellers chart, surpassing other popular games like Helldivers 2 and even beating out last week's juggernaut multiplayer FPS Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from Microsoft, Xbox, and Activision. The RPG is certainly getting some help from Black Ops 6's availability on Xbox Game Pass, and I expect the shooter to reclaim its position shortly, but even so, it's an impressive start for the new BioWare adventure.

In terms of player count on Steam, The Veilguard has peaked at 70,414 according to SteamDB data, with roughly 70,000 Rooks journeying across Thedas as I write this. Not mind-blowing numbers, admittedly, but strong nonetheless — and it's entirely possible that they'll rise even higher this weekend once most people have a few days off work.

I wasn't expecting the game's opening sales to temporarily propel it past a new entry in one of the most profitable game franchises in the world, but I suppose that's what happens when dedicated fans finally get the sequel they've been waiting a decade for. Indeed, this release has been a long time coming, and is arguably one of 2024's most pronounced RPG launches.

Notably, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the first new single player RPG from BioWare since 2017's Mass Effect: Andromeda, and its first wholly original release since the failed multiplayer action RPG Anthem (I'm not counting the 2021 Mass Effect trilogy remasters). In many ways, it's a statement of "BioWare is back" after years of struggling to win fans over with its recent projects, and as a longtime fan of the developer, I'm glad to see it's doing well so far.

Ironically, the one BioWare series I haven't tried before The Veilguard's release is Dragon Age itself, so my experience coming into this fourth main installment as a newcomer has been interesting. I've been playing through it this past week for coverage, and while I love the action gameplay — combat is fluid, engaging, and sufficiently challenging, and I like how nuanced the buildcrafting is, too — I've found the writing to be disappointing compared to, say, the Mass Effect games. There's a distinct lack of lasting conflict between characters and a fair amount of dialogue that's overly silly and lighthearted, which has me yearning for some meaningful depth. Still, I've enjoyed my time overall, and am looking forward to completing my playthrough.

If you're wondering, my colleague Samuel Tolbert reviewed Dragon Age: The Veilguard for Windows Central, giving it a score of 4/5 stars. He writes that "Dragon Age: The Veilguard is one of BioWare's most different titles yet, with an action-heavy focus that can be a mixed bag." Clearly, he likes the writing more than I do; he noted that "while not every story reveal here is perfectly handled, the characters you meet, both friend and foe, are among BioWare's best."

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Even factoring in my issues with the narrative, I can confidently say that I've enjoyed The Veilguard way more than Mass Effect: Andromeda, and I'm choosing to be optimistic about the next Mass Effect as a result. The writing may not live up to the standards set by past BioWare games, but the characters are all still pretty likeable, and the developer has done a good job making sure that lots of the choices you make throughout the story — both big and small — have tangible, meaningful consequences.

If you're interested in getting the game, it's available for $69.99 on Xbox Series X|S and PS5, and $59.99 on Windows PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app. On PC, it's also playable through the Pro tier of EA Play, and since it's expected to eventually release on the regular version of EA Play, it's likely that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will eventually get access.

To tackle the threats seeking to obliterate Thedas, you'll need the best gear available.

Every Dragon Age game shakes up the gameplay formula, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard is no exception. With a new gear system eschewing the crafting format found in Dragon Age: Inquisition, newcomers and veterans alike might initially be confused about how they're supposed to improve their weapons, armor, and other magically-powered items.

Don't worry, I'm here to help. Here's how to upgrade weapons and armor in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — How to upgrade weapons and armor

Where to upgrade weapons and armor

For most of your upgrades, you'll want to head to the Caretaker's Workshop. This shop can't be missed, as it's found right at the center of the Lighthouse, your home base in the Fade where you rest between missions and chat with your party members. When you're not redecorating, you can speak to the Caretaker and use the materials you've found to improve your gear.

What kinds of upgrades are available?

In order to upgrade your weapons and armor in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it's important to understand the different stats.

Every piece of gear offers some sort of numerical bonuses, such as an increase to healing received or a specific amount of damage. This can be improved by selecting the Upgrade menu at the Caretaker. Each item can only be improved up to a certain amount depending on what rank the Caretaker's shop is at, based on the various resources that you've gathered. This includes materials like Pure Ore, which are primarily found through exploration, but can also occasionally be found at a particular shop.

In order to improve the Caretaker's shop, you'll need to gather Mementos, which can be purchased from various merchants in different regions, but can also be frequently through exploration.

In addition to upgrades, you'll also have access to Enchantments at the Caretaker. Enchantments are different, being completely free to apply to a weapon or piece of armor, but you can only apply it once. If you want to apply a chosen enchantment to a new bit of gear, then you'll take it away from whatever it was applied to before.

How to improve gear rarity

Some gear can be improved by increasing its Rarity, turning it from a common item to something more unique. Every time an item's Rarity is increased, a new perk is unlocked, allowing you to evolve your tactics with powerful new bonuses. For example, a ring that initially only adds 10% damage to bleeding effects might go up to 25% and also extend the time an enemy bleeds.

To increase the Rarity of a weapon or ring you might have, you'll need to either find a duplicate in the wild (usually in the form of a treasure chest) or you'll need to buy it from a merchant.

Build up The Veilguard

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is available worldwide, and with it, BioWare has finally returned to the story that was left hanging in 2015's Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser DLC. Solas' plan is set in motion, but things go awry, leaving the new player character Rook to build a team that can stop Thedas from being destroyed by other ancient godly threats.

In my review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I wrote that "In gameplay experience, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is one of BioWare's most different titles yet, with an action-heavy focus that can be a mixed bag. While not every story reveal here is perfectly handled, the characters you meet, both friend and foe, are among BioWare's best."

There are a few big decisions you'll have to make when you're making your Rook in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but the one that's going to have the biggest impact on your journey is the class you choose. Each of the game's three classes approach combat in considerably different ways, and while there is some overlap, each one is best used with specific strategies and tactics. Eventually, you'll also have three Specializations for your class to potentially build into as well, with these subclasses encouraging you to further refine your playstyle.

The game gives you brief descriptions of each class during character creation, but even so, it's hard to know which one will be the best class for you. To help you make a choice for your adventure in Thedas, I've put together this guide that goes over how each class works, each of their Specializations, and the playstyles that each one is ideal for.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Best class to play

While different classes are stronger than others in some action RPGs, they're pretty well-balanced in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. For that reason, I don't recommend picking one by trying to use viability and overall power as your determining factors, as Mage, Rogue, and Warrior are all relatively equal in this regard. Instead, you should pick your class based on which one sounds the most fun to play, as well as which one has a Specialization that sounds like it'll fit with your preferred playstyle. A thorough analysis of each class can be found in the sections below, so make sure to read through them.

Something important to note is that you won't be able to reach a Specialization in your character's skill trees until Level 20, so don't expect to pick one right away; you'll need to make some significant story progress before they become available. Also keep in mind that while you can freely spec into a different Specialization at any time, you can only have one active at a time.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Mage class

• Races: Elf, Qunari, and Human
• Armor: Light
• Weapon: Staves, Dagger and Orb
• Verbs: Burst, Sustain, Control
• Specializations: Death Caller, Evoker, Spellblade
• Resource: Mana (regenerates over time)

Of the three classes in The Veilguard, the Mage is arguably the riskiest one to play, but also reaps some of the best rewards if you master proper positioning and spell timing. Wielding either Staves or Daggers and Orbs and wearing only light armor, Mages excel at using arcane magics to buff allies, crowd control the battlefield, and obliterate their enemies. However, their low health and poor protection means that they're largely a backline class, with tactics like kiting often necessary to keep major threats at bay. With that said, the Spellblade Specialization does give Mages the tools to fight in close-quarters effectively, so you can be a powerful battlemage if you want to.

The Mage's class resource is Mana, which regenerates over time and fuels your deadliest and most effective spells. As a Mage, it's important to try and keep some Mana in reserve at all times so you can respond to something you might not be expecting, such as a foe starting to close the gap on you. Without it, you'll have to wait a bit before you can cast a strong attack.

Something unique about Mage is that it's the only class Dwarves can't use, as in Dragon Age lore, they don't have a connection to the Fade realm and can't channel magic as a result. If you want to be a Mage, make sure you choose one of the other races.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Mage Specializations

All three Mage Specializations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are incredibly powerful, though they play pretty differently from one another. Here are some details about them that will help you pick one:

• Death Caller: This is your "nuke" style Mage subclass, complete with a strong emphasis on high DPS output with necrotic damage and spells fueled by their own health. Death Callers can drain life from enemies to counteract this, but their lack of strong crowd control means that they'll struggle to stay in the fight if not positioned well.
• Evoker: The Evoker also wants to stay away from foes, though they excel at crowd control as opposed to dishing out raw damage. Evokers utilize elemental ice magic to slow and freeze incoming hordes, making them easier to take care of with follow-up spells or party member assistance.
• Spellblade: This is the Mage Specialization that wants to be close to its enemies, with the subclass combining strong melee attacks with vicious close-range lightning strikes. It's great for single-target damage and has some defensive capabilities, but it's quite challenging and will still require being on point with dodges.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Rogue class

• Races: Elf, Dwarf, Qunari, and Human
• Armor: Medium
• Weapon: Daggers, Bow
• Verbs: Burst, Sustain, Control
• Specializations: Duelist, Saboteur, Veil Ranger
• Resource: Momentum (gained by dodging attacks)

The Rogue class is perfect for players who want to roleplay as a dexterous assassin or a skilled ranger, and is capable of some of the highest burst damage on individual targets in the entire game. Their Daggers and Bow gives them effective options both up close and at range, and while they're not nearly as tanky as Warriors, their medium armor helps them survive hits that would likely kill lightly protected Mages. In many ways, Rogues are The Veilguard's "jack of all trades" class, though their Specializations let you lean hard into a specific desired playstyle.

Rangers use a resource called Momentum, which is gained whenever you dodge incoming attacks successfully. Gaining Momentum is entirely an active process, meaning that even bow-focused Rogues will need to get closer to adversaries than most Mages want to to evade damage and build it up. Luckily, Rogues are also the fastest and nimblest class, so as long as you're patient and take the time to learn how to dodge the attacks in enemy movesets, this won't be as dangerous as it sounds.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Rogue Specializations

Two of the Rogue's Specializations are very strong, while one is incredibly unique, but doesn't quite reach the heights of the other options (with that said, it's not at all bad or useless). Here's an overview:

• Duelist: As the name implies, this subclass is perfect for players that like to take down targets individually, dealing tons of high melee damage while deftly avoiding attacks thrown your way. The Duelist may have some difficulty dealing with crowds, though, especially if they get cornered and don't have a lot of room to work with.
• Saboteur: This unique Specialization is more about crowd control than DPS, and is largely centered around littering the battlefield with traps that make foes easy to pick off with arrows. It's not quite as powerful as the other two options, but it's still totally viable and a good pick for folks that want something a little unconventional.
• Veil Ranger: Essentially the ranged version of a Duelist, Veil Rangers snipe from afar for big critical hits, using special artifacts that imbue their arrows with potent magic. Though better than Duelists at thinning the horde as long as they're a good distance away from the front line, they struggle significantly if they're not able to put some distance between themselves and a major threat for an extended period of time.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Warrior class

• Races: Elf, Dwarf, Qunari, and Human
• Armor: Heavy
• Weapon: One-Handed Weapon and Shield, Two-Handed Weapon
• Verbs: Weapons, Survival, Abilities
• Specializations: Reaper, Slayer, Champion
• Resource: Rage (gained by hitting and being hit by enemies)

Warriors are the tanks of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, though don't let that fool you into thinking they can't hit hard and dish out the pain. Warriors are capable of great damage output, and while their offense isn't as potent as what's possible with Mage and Rogue, the upside is that their heavy armor and shields make them far more resilient. This makes them a particularly good choice for inexperienced action RPG players, as well as those who want to take the brunt of enemy attacks while party members lay into them.

Emphasizing the Warrior's role is its Rage resource, which builds as you both deal and take damage. Additionally, the class is — for the most part — only capable of lightly attacking from afar, meaning you'll want to be in melee combat as much as possible to consistently gain lots of Rage for your skills and special moves. You have the option of using a Shield with a One-Handed Weapon for greater blocking capabilities, or alternatively, you can switch to a Two-Handed Weapon for better damage and wide cleaves that make it easier to handle swarms of opponents.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Warrior Specializations

The three Warrior Specializations all encourage you to brawl on the front line, though one of them is more defensive while the other two are geared more towards offensive playstyles. Here's how each one works:

• Reaper: This is basically the melee version of the Mage's Death Caller subclass, as it's completely DPS-focused and uses your health as fuel for your power, allowing you to drain the life of your enemies to sustain yourself and stay in the fight. Taking a lot of damage is riskier as a Reaper than it is with the other Specializations, however.
• Slayer: Though still an offensive Specialization overall, Slayer is a bit more balanced than Reaper and emphasizes using colossal two-handed weapons to stagger and knock down your opponents.
• Champion: The best subclass for a defensive tank playstyle. Allows you to block lots of incoming damage with your stalwart shield, then retaliate with quick melee strikes and powerful fire attacks.

How will you save Thedas?

The Mage, Rogue, and Warrior classes all have distinctly different strengths and weaknesses, but all three of them are viable and effective in combat. Some specific Specializations may be better than others overall, but ultimately, you should just play whatever class sounds the most fun. After all, this is a decision you can't change later, and having to start over because you picked a class you ended up hating just because someone said it was better than others would be immensely frustrating.

Personally, my main playthrough has been with a Warrior, as I've always gravitated towards tank characters and frontline fighters in RPGs and MMOs. However, if you think you'd like being a deadly assassin or a master of the arcane instead, you should pick Rogue or Mage, respectively.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app), and PlayStation 5 for $59.99 (PC) or $69.99 (console) depending on which platform you're playing on. Note that you also have the option of accessing it through an EA Play Pro subscription. It's arguably one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year for RPG fans, and the first new Dragon Age in a decade.

Once you choose a class in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the next thing you'll need to do while making your character in BioWare's new action RPG is pick a faction for your Rook to be a part of. It's not a decision to stress about — the impact it has on your playthrough is ultimately pretty minor — but even so, it's one you shouldn't rush through. After all, your chosen faction determines what your backstory and surname is, how you met Varric, gives you a few nifty bonuses, and even allows you to pick some unique dialogue options in a few parts of the story.

In total, there are six factions to choose from, and each one has different lore, aesthetic styles, and (minor) stat bonuses to consider. Not sure which one you want to be a part of? In this guide, you'll find an overview of each one that includes everything you need to know so you can make an informed decision. I've also made some recommendations for the best factions to join depending on which class you're going to play as, as your faction choice does actually have some gameplay impact.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Best faction for Mage

If you're playing as a Death Caller or Evoker Mage, there's no doubt about it: the best faction for you from a gameplay perspective is the Shadow Dragons. This is because your passive Mana regeneration will be increased, allowing you to cast your most powerful spells more frequently than you'd be able to otherwise. Momentum and Rage aren't as important to Rogues and Warriors as Mana is to Mages, so going with the Shadow Dragons is a no-brainer.

Spellsword Mages, however, will likely be better off as a Grey Warden or as an Antivan Crow. The former gives you increased health and defense and the latter lets you carry an extra health potion; since Spellswords fight up close but lack the protection of a Warrior, both bonuses will be a major boon to them.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Best faction for Rogue

For both Duelist and Veil Ranger Rogues, the best faction to join is the Veil Jumpers. Both of these subclasses do lots of crit and/or weakpoint damage, so you'll be proccing the Veil Jumpers' bonuses to these constantly. The Antivan Crows is a good alternative if you're a Duelist, as more healing for a melee class never hurts.

Saboteurs, meanwhile, should go with the Lords of Fortune. Not only is the idea of a skilled trickster and trapper fitting for a dexterous treasure hunter, but the faction's buff to takedowns will come in very handy, too, as that's what most of your traps are for.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Best faction for Warrior

Warriors synergize with many of the faction-specific bonuses in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The best overall faction to pick as a Warrior is the Grey Wardens since you get a nice improvement to your all-important defenses and health, but the extra health potion from being an Antivan Crow is nice, too.

If you're planning to become a Slayer, the Lords of Fortune are also worth considering, as that Specialization's focus on large two-handed weapons often results in many takedowns. Reapers, on the other hand, can take advantage of the buff from The Mourn Watchers well, as they often inflict afflictions during their barbaric rampages.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Grey Wardens

• Bonded in Blood: Gain reputation with the Grey Wardens more quickly
• Blight Killer: Deal increased damage vs. Darkspawn
• Vigilant Training: Base defense and health are slightly increased
• Surname: Thorne

Rook Backstory: "When innocent lives were at stake, Rook led the charge, saving a village from a monstrous nightmare—no matter the cost to him/her/theirself.

During a large darkspawn incursion, Rook was ordered to hold the line with other Grey Wardens until reinforcements arrived. Rook argued that by then, villagers under attack would be dead. He/She/They disobeyed orders, leading the squad into the incursion and sealing the tunnel to the Deep Roads. This turned the tide, and the darkspawn were driven off, which saved the villagers. Rook's heroism was popular among the younger Wardens, but others with connections to noble families resented his/her/their independent streak. Rook chose to step away while tempers cooled."

The Grey Wardens are essentially the knights in shining armor of Dragon Age, and have taken an oath to defend all of Thedas from Darkspawn and their Blights (times when the Darkspawn corrupt a god and use their power to attack the realm). The integrity of the troops in their ranks is more questionable than one might think given that the organization tends to take in anyone — including criminals — who can fight well, but what's not disputed is that they're excellent warriors who have saved the world many times.

When playing as a Grey Warden in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you'll get improved health and defense. More resilience is something every type of Warrior will benefit greatly from, though this bonus is also particularly beneficial to Spellblade Mages who fight in close-quarters but don't have heavy armor or a large health pool.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Veil Jumpers

• Close to the Veil: Gain reputation with the Veil Jumpers more quickly
• Attuned Strikes: Deal increased damage vs. Fade-Touched
• Keen Eye: Deal slightly increased Critical and Weakpoint damage
• Surname: Aldwir

Rook Backstory: "When lives were at stake, Rook defied orders to rescue people from the mystic perils of Arlathan.

On an expedition to ruins in Arlathan Forest, the Veil Jumpers found ruins that contained important lost lore and deadly danger. Barely surviving the ruins' ancient magical defenses, Rook's small team recovered an invaluable map leading to a hidden area of the forest. Although the team escaped, other Veil Jumpers found themselves trapped. Rook chose to return to the ruins, saving her/his/their teammates' lives, but losing the map. He/She/They was lauded for his/her/their bravery, but the map's loss caused some resentment among Veil Jumper leaders."

The Veil Jumpers are a large group of explorers and adventurers that have banded together to investigate the magical Arlathan Forest and its elven ruins, while also safeguarding them from external dangers. Most of the Veil Jumpers are adept with archery, though they fight with many different types of weapons.

Veil Jumper Rooks get improved damage with crits and against weakpoints, which is a massive bonus. Unsurprisingly, the Rogue's Veil Ranger Specialization is perfect for this faction since you'll be aiming for weak spots constantly, but it works well for the Duelist subclass too if you build into critical hits.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Shadow Dragons

• Light in the Dark: Gain reputation with the Shadow Dragons more quickly
• Never to Rise: Deal increased damage vs. Venatori
• Resourceful: Your class-specific resource generates slightly faster
• Surname: Mercar

Rook Backstory: "Rook risked everything to liberate the enslaved people of Tevinter, even knowing it would anger the ruling elite.

The foundling Rook was adopted into a military family and joined the Shadow Dragons to fight from the shadows for change in Minrathous. While guarding a visiting dignitary who was investigating a slavery ring in the nearby city of Nessus, Rook concluded that the mission would fail without throwing caution to the wind. Alone, he/she/they sneaked the dignitary deep into Venatori-controlled zones and brought him back, along with the rescued slaves. These actions brought Rook to the Venatori's attention, and the Shadow Dragons decided to keep Rook out of sight."

This underground faction operates in the nation of Tevinter and fights to free slaves from those that lord over them in cities like Minrathous. Little else about them is known, however, especially since they're rarely observed in the open.

While its overall vibe and style fits best with a Rogue character, the improvement the faction gives to your class-specific resource generation actually makes it the ideal one to pick if you're planning to play as a Mage. The effectiveness of the Mage class is completely dependent on proper Mana management, and with faster passive Mana regeneration, you'll be able to use more of your powerful spells more often.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Lords of Fortune

• Together in Glory: Gain reputation with the Lords of Fortune more quickly
• Healthy Competition: Deal increased damage vs. Mercenaries
• Relentless: Perform takedowns on enemies with slightly less effort
• Surname: Laidir

Rook Backstory: "When a corrupt Rivaini noble double-crossed Rook, Rook escaped a collapsing ruin, turned the tables, and destroyed a dangerous artifact.

A rising Lord of Fortune, skilled at breaking into lost tombs and ruins, Rook killed a corrupt Rivaini noble to prevent an ancient evil from being given to the Venatori. His/her/their actions were correct and saved the lives of expedition members, but some Rivaini nobles were resentful. Because the success of the Lords' expeditions relied on Rivaini authorities looking the other way, it seemed wise for Rook to step away while tempers settled."

The Lords of Fortune are Dragon Age's treasure-hunting scoundrels, and are known for their love of affluence, colorful garments, and masterful ability to disguise themselves to sneak around undetected or slip away from the scene of a thievery.

The two class Specializations that can make the most of the faction's takedown difficulty reduction are the Warrior's Slayer and the Rogue's Saboteur, as both have lots of skills and abilities that emphasize takedowns. Reaper isn't a bad subclass to match with the Lords of Fortune, either.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — The Mourn Watch

• Recognized Name: Gain reputation with the Mourn Watchers more quickly
• Return to the Grave: Deal increased damage vs. Undead and Demons
• Acute Afflictions: You can apply an additional affliction stack on targets
• Surname: Ingellvar

Rook Backstory: "When restless spirits threatened the inhabitants of the Grand Necropolis, Rook took decisive action to protect both the living and the dead.

Discovered by undead inside a Grand Necropolis tomb as an infant, Rook was raised by Mourn Watch necromancers, eventually joining the order. During a "civil war" between undead nobility, known later as the War of the Banners, he/she/they led a daring attack on the rebellion's dueling leaders. It was a success, quelling the war and saving lives. But Rook's destruction of these undead nobles was controversial. Some Mourn Watchers feared Rook had offended the order's aristocratic patrons and encouraged him/her/them to travel for a while."

There's also The Mourn Watch, a group that watches over and protects the Grand Necropolis — a mausoleum within Nevarra City that contains a repository of the dead. The Watch also investigates situations in which there are issues with the use and/or effects of magic, and has ultimate authority in matters related to funerary dead.

The extra affliction stacks you can apply if you're a Mourn Watcher are hugely beneficial to both Death Caller Mages and Reaper Warriors, so this faction is worth considering if you eventually plan to build into one of those Specializations.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Antivan Crows

• Under their Wing: Gain reputation with the Antivan Crows more quickly
• Open Contract: Deal increased damage vs. Antaam
• Hidden Pouch: Holds an extra potion
• Surname: De Riva

Rook Backstory: "When the invaders of Treviso took people captive, Rook was determined to free the prisoners at any cost.

A talented new Crow recently promoted to full membership, Rook chafed at the cautions of his/her/their commanders, especially with his/her/their city occupied by brutal soldiers known as the Antaam. When Rook saw a patrol herding along captives one night, he/she/they leaped into action. Despite saving lives, however,  Rook had unknowingly compromised a larger Crow operation against the Antaam. Rook's superiors were incensed. Sidelined for his/her/their actions, the young assassin searched for new ways to prove him/her/theirself."

The sixth and final faction option is the Antivan Crows — a shadowy group that's been a part of Dragon Age since the first game's release. Masters of stealth, daggers, and poison, the network of renowned assassins and spies is often approached and paid to conduct assassinations of all kinds. The Crows are so skilled that many nations have avoided trying to conquer their homeland of Antiva despite the fact it doesn't even have an army, though recently Antaam soldiers have begun to occupy the area.

Any class and Specialization will benefit from having an extra health potion, but the bonus is arguably best for Warriors, Duelist Rogues, and Spellblade Mages since they're frequently in the thick of melee combat and have the highest chance of getting hit.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app), and PlayStation 5 for $59.99 (PC) or $69.99 (console) depending on which platform you're playing on. Note that you also have the option of accessing it through an EA Play Pro subscription. It's arguably one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year for RPG fans, and the first new Dragon Age in a decade.

• Buy for PC: CDKeys (Standard) | CDKeys (Deluxe) | Steam

Best settings to play Dragon Age: The Veilguard on gaming handhelds

As you can see from our Dragon Age: The Veilguard review, this game might have a stylized look to it, but it is still a very graphically intensive game. There are a lot of assets, effects, and details to render in each of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's environments.

This being the case, the first time you start The Veilguard, it will need to take several minutes to compile shaders. In my own experience, my ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go displayed a progress bar during this process, but the Steam Deck just showed a black page. Leave the devices alone while it does this, but make sure it doesn't go to sleep. Then you'll be good to choose your settings and start playing when it's done.

Note that whenever you change the texture and graphics settings, The Veilguard will need to be restarted to shift to these new settings. Plus, it will then need to compile shaders again (but it won't take as long as the first time). Here are the settings to use on gaming handhelds:

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Best settings for Steam Deck

As with any graphically intensive game, the lower your graphics settings, the smoother the game tends to play, but the trick is getting the smoothest playing experience with the nicest visual rendering possible.

For the most part, you're going to want to stick with the Low graphics and texture settings to get the best playing experience on Steam Deck. Here are the best settings to use:

Best display settings:

• Active Monitor: 1-Generic Non-PNP Monitor
• Window Mode: Fullscreen
• Screen Resolution: (Determine this on Ally)
• Refresh Rate: (Determine this on Ally)
• Frame Rate Limit: (Determine this on Ally)
• VSync: Off (Turning this on interferes with AFMF)
• Triple Buffering: Off
• Brightness: (50% or your preference)
• Contrast: (50% or your preference)
• Enable HDR: (Greyed out)
• HDR Calibration: (Greyed out)
• Upsample Method: AMD FSR
• Upsample Quality: Balanced
• DLSS Frame Generation: (Greyed out)
• NVIDIA Reflex: (Greyed out)
• Anti-Aliasing: (Greyed out)
• Render Scale: (100% or your preference)
• Dynamic Resolution Scaling: On
• Target Frames Per Second: 30
• Minimum Resolution Scale: 83%

Best graphics settings:

• Graphics Preset: Low
• Texture Quality: Low
• Texture Filtering: Low
• Lighting Quality: Low
• Contact Shadow: On
• Ambient Occlusion: HBAO
• Screen Space Reflections: Off
• Volumetric Lighting: Low
• Sky Quality: Low
• Ray-traced Reflections: Off
• Ray-traced Ambient Occlusion: Off
• Ultra Ray Tracing: Off
• Level of Detail: Low
• Strand Hair: Off
• Terrain Quality: Low
• Terrain Decoration Quality: Low
• Visual Effects Quality: Low
• Depth of Field: Cinematics
• Vignette: Off
• Motion Blur: Off
• Post Processing Quality: Low
• Field of View: (100% or your preference)

Steam Deck Compatibility ✅

Here's what Steam's The Veilguard page says about Steam Deck Compatibility:

Valve's testing indicates that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Verified on Steam Deck. This game is fully functional on Steam Deck, and works great with the built-in controls and display.

• ✅ All functionality is accessible when using the default controller configuration.
• ✅ This game shows Steam Deck controller icons.
• ✅ In-game interface text is legible on Steam Deck.
• ✅ This game's default graphics configuration performs well on Steam Deck.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Best settings for ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go

Windows 11 gaming handhelds like ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go have more powerful internals than Steam Deck, so the settings can be set a little higher. On these devices, you'll also want to set the TDP to Max (play plugged in or in a docking station to counteract battery life issues), resolution at 720p (AFMF will make it look better), and set FPS limiter to 30-60FPS depending on your preference.

If you're playing on ROG Ally or ROG Ally X, I highly recommend setting up AFMF as this can make games look a lot smoother. You'll also want to increase ROG Ally VRAM if you haven't already.

Meanwhile, these are the Display and Graphics settings you'll want to use in the game itself:

Best display settings:

• Active Monitor: (Greyed out)
• Window Mode: Fullscreen (for AFMF)
• Screen Resolution: 1280x720
• Refresh Rate: 60.00 Hz
• Frame Rate Limit: Uncapped
• VSync: Off
• Triple Buffering: Off
• Brightness: (50% or your preference)
• Contrast: (50% or your preference)
• Enable HDR: (Greyed out)
• HDR Calibration: (Greyed out)
• Upsample Method: AMD FSR
• Upsample Quality: Balanced
• DLSS Frame Generation: (Greyed out)
• NVIDIA Reflex: (Greyed out)
• Anti-Aliasing: (Greyed out)
• Render Scale: (100% or your preference)
• Dynamic Resolution Scaling: On
• Target Frames Per Second: 30
• Minimum Resolution Scale: 76%

Best graphics settings:

• Graphics Preset: (This will turn to Custom)
• Texture Quality: Medium
• Texture Filtering: High
• Lighting Quality: High
• Contact Shadow: On
• Ambient Occlusion: Off
• Screen Space Reflections: Off
• Volumetric Lighting: Medium
• Sky Quality: Low
• Ray-traced Reflections: Off
• Ray-traced Ambient Occlusion: Off
• Ultra Ray Tracing: Off
• Level of Detail: Medium
• Strand Hair: Off
• Terrain Quality: High
• Terrain Decoration Quality: High
• Visual Effects Quality: Medium
• Depth of Field: Cinematics
• Vignette: Off
• Motion Blur: On
• Post Processing Quality: High
• Field of View: (100% or your preference)

Now dive into your new Dragon Age adventure, Rook!

It's been 10 years since a new Dragon Age game released, and as I discussed with The Veilguard's game director in my Dragon Age: The Veilguard preview, this is the first one that was created with PC gaming handhelds in mind.

From my own experiences, I've found that The Veilguard's controls feel natural on handhelds, but you can remap them if you'd like. Additionally, this adventure can run incredibly smoothly on various gaming handhelds as long as the right settings are in place. You'll just want to tweak a couple of options on Steam Deck and then change several on ROG Ally (or ROG Ally X) and Legion Go to get rid of some default-setting choppiness.

At the time of writing, The Veilguard hasn't released yet, but it's currently sitting at a generally favorable 84 Metascore based on critic reviews. A huge part of enjoying any game is knowing what settings to put it at to get the very best motion clarity and render quality possible on said device. So, make sure you make those adjustments right from the start. If you're interested, check out the best games for ROG Ally and their optimizations.

The world of Thedas beckons.

The next entry in BioWare and Electronic Arts' long-running Dragon Age series is finally with us, and its arrival comes 10 years after its predecessor. With such a long gap between launches, it's safe to say some players haven't gone through the whole series in a while, even as total newcomers are curious about all the excitement.

After you're done reading this, you'll be caught up and ready to dive into Dragon Age: The Veilguard. No matter if you're an accomplished Grey Warden looking to refresh your memory about a particular event or a brand new player eager to catch up on the stories of the past, I've got you covered.

Before we begin

First off, I'm not going to recap other supplementary media outside of the games, but I will say you really should read some of the books, short stories, and the animated Dragon Age: Absolution series on Netflix if you get a chance. They tell additional stories or flesh out character backgrounds, throwing new breadcrumbs into the mix, but they aren't a part of the core narrative experience in the games.

Second, while the Dragon Age games aren't as interconnected as something like the Mass Effect trilogy, ultimately, this is a franchise about choice. Players take actions and make decisions, with these choices rippling out in major or minor ways that are usually respected in future games. Because there's no way to account for every single one of these choices and have this article not read like the scrawling of a hyperfixated madman, I'm going to be sticking to the most basic facts that advance the plot in this retelling, mentioning possibilities where relevant but ultimately proceeding with what absolutely happens (in DLC as well as the base game), no matter what.

With all that in mind, let's dive in.

Dragon Age: Origins

First released in 2009, Dragon Age: Origins is currently playable on Windows PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles via backward compatibility. If you're going to play on PC, be sure to consult my Dragon Age: Origins mods list and guide.

Let's set the scene

Dragon Age: Origins kicks off in the year 9:30 Dragon, with the order of the Grey Wardens sighting a horde of dangerous, underground-dwelling Darkspawn in the nation of Ferelden on the continent of Thedas. Believing a Blight to be underway — an event in which Darkspawn swarm the surface, guided by a dragon-esque monster called an Archdemon — the Grey Wardens, who are sworn to fight the Darkspawn, begin recruiting and laying plans for battle.

The Chantry, a large religious order in Thedas, teaches that the Darkspawn began when human mages tried physically breaching into heaven, with their sin turning the Golden City black, and they themselves became the first Darkspawn. The Chantry further teaches that the Archdemons are the former Old Gods of Tevinter, a rival nation of Ferelden that once ruled the world in an empire and still allows slavery.

Duncan, commander of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden, ends up recruiting an unsuspecting hero — the custom player character — possibly a human noble or mage, a dwarven noble or commoner, an elven commoner, or even a tribal-based elf known as one of the Dalish. This Hero of Ferelden accompanies Duncan to the keep of Ostagar in southern Thedas, where they meet the Warden Alistair, as well as King Cailan Theirin of Ferelden and his war hero general Teryn (duke) Loghain Mac Tir, with the latter having formerly helped Cailan's father Maric free Ferelden from the control of its powerful neighbor, Orlais.

The truth about the Grey Wardens and a major betrayal

Ahead of the battle, Duncan has Alistair, the Hero of Ferelden, and other Warden recruits head out into the surrounding Korcari Wilds to gather Darkspawn blood and a handful of old treaties that allow Grey Wardens to demand aid from various factions in times of emergency. While acquiring these items, the group of mostly-aspiring Wardens meet a witch named Morrigan and her mother, Flemeth, both of whom are referred to as Witches of the Wilds.

During a ceremony, Duncan reveals to the Hero of Ferelden that Grey Wardens pay a price to become what they are. In a ritual called the Joining, Grey Warden recruits drink the magically-treated blood of Darkspawn. Many die from this, but those that survive are changed, able to sense the Darkspawn and immune to their corruption. This corruption normally kills everything it touches, painfully twisting animals and sentient beings alike into ghouls. While the other recruits die from the Joining or execution after attempted desertion, the Hero of Ferelden survives and becomes a true Grey Warden.

The Grey Wardens and the forces of King Cailan meet the Darkspawn in battle. At a pivotal moment, Loghain ignores the signal fire calling for him to flank the horde. Loghain and his army depart, leaving King Cailin, Duncan, and their army to die, though Alistair and the Hero of Ferelden are rescued by Flemeth. The two young Wardens decide that in order to get justice against Loghain and stop the Darkspawn, they'll need to build an army with the treaties they recovered. The pair set off, while Flemeth sends Morrigan with them, with the group possibly picking up allies like the Chantry bard Leliana and the Qunari warrior Sten in the village of Lothering, as well as the golem Shale in a small place called Honnleath. They also rescue a dwarf father and son, Bodahn and Sandal, with the former aiding around camp as a merchant and the latter helping enchant weapons.

Civil war and alliances

Meanwhile, Loghain returns to the capital of Denerim, declaring himself regent for his daughter Queen Anora Mac Tir, wife of the late King Cailan. Loghain's actions splinter Ferelden into civil war, with many Banns and Arls (roughly equivalent to real-world minor lords and barons, respectively) engaging Loghain and his ally Arl Rendon Howe in battle. Ferelden is ravaged due to the in-fighting, which often concludes only right before the Darkspawn arrive and render a battle pointless.

The Hero of Ferelden and their allies head to the Tower of Magi, host of Ferelden's Circle, a strict order that all magic users in most of Thedas are required to attend due to the risk of mages being possessed by demons. At the tower, the Hero of Ferelden discovers utter chaos, with most of the tower being overrun by abominations (demon-possessed mages).

The Templars, a military arm of the Chantry assigned to carefully watch mages for signs of corruption, have sealed the building off and are working to obtain the Right of Annulment, an order that allows them to kill off an entire Circle because of demonic possession. Fighting through the tower, the Hero of Ferelden faces numerous demonic challenges and kills Uldred, a blood mage (a mage practicing illegal magic that uses blood for power) possessed by a Pride Demon, who rebelled after Loghain promised him certain freedoms in exchange for loyalty. The Hero of Ferelden either personally purges the remaining mages or saves their innocent leadership, resulting in either the Templars or the mages committing to help fight the Darkspawn.

Routing out dark magic with ally help

This eclectic gaggle also reaches Redcliffe Village, where Arl Eamon Guerrin resides, reasoning that because Eamon was Cailan's uncle and was not able to bring his troops to the battle of Ostagar, he still has a standing army at his call that he'll be willing to use against Loghain. The Hero of Ferelden finds Castle Redcliffe infested with undead however, host to zombified warriors that attack the nearby Redcliffe Village.

Fighting through the castle, the Hero of Ferelden discovers that Eamon is in a coma, having been poisoned by a blood mage named Jowan, on orders from Loghain. Worse yet, this blood mage had been hired in secret by Eamon's wife Isolde in order to teach their son Connor magic outside of the Circle. As an untrained magical youth, Connor accidentally made a deal with a Desire Demon, with the demon keeping Eamon alive in exchange for being allowed to possess the young boy and grow an undead army.

The Hero of Ferelden possibly kills the boy, or has a mage enter the Fade (the realm of spirits and demons, where most races go when they sleep) in order to fight the demon directly. To power this intense spell, Isolde either gives up her life in a blood magic ritual, or (if the mages were saved) mages from the Circle use a vast amount of magical Lyrium to enable the spell. One way or another, the demon is dealt with, but Eamon remains comatose.

Desperate for something that can wake and heal Eamon, the group seeks out the legend of the Urn of Sacred Ashes, an urn that supposedly holds the ashes of the prophet Andraste, a warrior revered by the Chantry as the bride of the Maker, creator of all. Tracking the legend to the isolated village of Haven, the group discovers a cult that believes Andraste has been reincarnated in the form of a massive High Dragon, and that her ashes need to be defiled in order to allow her to truly ascend.

Ascending the Frostback Mountains and reaching a hidden temple, the Hero of Ferelden either aids the cult or kills them. After making it through a gauntlet of tests and traps, the hero and friends end up taking a pinch of the magical ashes. Returning to Redcliffe, these ashes prove to be indeed miraculous, healing Eamon, who vows to help after he learns of Loghain's treachery and the Darkspawn threat.

The group survives an ambush attack by assassins hired by Loghain and Howe, possibly accepting the defeated Antivan Crow Zevran Arainai into their merry band. Heading to the Brecilian Forest, the group locates a tribe of Dalish elves. The elves' seemingly immortal Keeper (leader) Zathrian explains that they are under attack by a pack of werewolves. Investigating further, it becomes apparent to the Hero of Ferelden that these werewolves are only attacking because they want the curse they are afflicted with to be lifted.

Hundreds of years ago, Zathrian's son was tortured and killed by a group of humans, while his daughter was raped and left for dead, later taking her own life. In order to avenge them, Zathrian cursed the humans and all their descendants, binding his own life to the curse. The Hero of Ferelden possibly wipes out the werewolves or the elves, or may negotiate peace, convincing Zathrian to lift the curse at the cost of his life. As a result, the army is reinforced with the addition of a pack of werewolves or squads of Dalish elves.

The group now turns its attention to the underground dwarf city of Orzammar. The dwarves are unable to help because their king recently died, with the Assembly (a group of dwarf nobles that vote) deadlocked between two candidates: The late king's progressive but ruthless son Bhelen Aeducan, or his conservative but kindly advisor Pyral Harrowmount.

The Hero of Ferelden seeks out the Paragon Branka, with her vote as a respected embodiment of dwarf culture able to break the deadlock. Branka disappeared alongside her house years ago, seeking out the ancient Anvil of the Void of the Paragon Caradin, who once crafted the powerful golems that dwarfs use to fight the Darkspawn. This search takes the Hero of Ferelden into the Deep Roads, a series of vast underground tunnels that once connected the ancient dwarf empire, now fallen to Darkspawn. The Hero of Ferelden is aided by Oghren, a perpetually-drunk dwarf berserker once married to Branka.

Fighting through tunnel after tunnel filled with Darkspawn, the group discovers and kills a horrifying Broodmother. Some of the women captured by Darkspawn in raids are forced to eat dead Darkspawn, and while most become feral ghouls like men, a tiny handful get very hungry, with repeated cannibalism and violation triggering a horrific transformation into a Broodmother, a swollen mass of flesh and tentacles constantly spewing out Darkspawn. The group also discovers that Branka intentionally allowed the women of her house to be captured, in the hopes that one or more would become Broodmothers that would be produce Darkspawn to tests traps around the Anvil of the Void.

Pressing on the Anvil of the Void, the group learns that Caridin is still alive as a golem, in a stand-off with Branka. Caridin reveals that the Anvil requires life, and while at first he only used volunteers to create golems, he was pressured to put political dissidents and petty criminals on the Anvil as well, eventually refusing and being forced into a golem himself. The Hero of Ferelden either aids Caridin and promises to destroy the Anvil, or aids Branka and promises to preserve it so new golems can be crafted.

Whichever master smith is aided forges a crown to be given to the new king of Orzammar, with the Hero of Ferelden and company heading back to the city and endorsing either Bhelen or Harrowmount. Either way, Orzammar has a king again who promises to send the dwarven army up to the surface to fight the Darkspawn.

At some point, Alistair also reveals to the Hero of Ferelden that Grey Wardens are only immune to the Darkspawn taint for a while. After enough time passes (usually under 30 years, but it's different for every Warden) they start hearing the call of the Old Gods, and in order to avoid losing themselves and becoming a ghoul, Wardens embark on The Calling, a ritual in which they go to the Deep Roads and kill Darkspawn threatening the dwarves until they fall in combat.

The Hero of Ferelden also gets involved in the personal problems of their party, learning that Alistair is actually Cailan's half-brother and the bastard son of their father Maric, and thus, a possible heir to the throne of Ferelden. Morrigan also learns from her mother's grimoire that her mother is impossibly old and unnaturally extends her lifespan by possessing her daughters, possibly causing the Hero of Ferelden to kill Flemeth, who takes the form of a massive dragon.

Arriving in Denerim, the group investigates Loghain's plans while Eamon calls for a Landsmeet, a political gathering that allows Ferelden's nobility to sort out problems. Close examinations reveal more of Loghain's crimes, including abducting Templars and allowing non-Dalish elves — who are treated like second-class citizens in most of Thedas, forced to live in slums called Alienages — to be sold into slavery by mages from Tevinter. Loghain is also revealed to have refused aid from Orlais, and kidnapped an Orlesian Grey Warden named Riordan, who is rescued and joins forces with the Hero of Ferelden, with Loghain's conspirator Howe being killed by the Hero of Ferelden.

At the Landsmeet, no matter what approach is taken, things turn to violence, with Loghain being defeated in a duel. Riordan suggests the general's life be spared and have him be forced to go through the Joining, while Alistair demands his death to avenge Cailan and Duncan. Depending on what happens, Alistair may be elected the new king and marry Anora, rule alone, or rule and marry the Hero of Ferelden. Anora may also rule alone or married to the Hero of Ferelden. No matter what, Ferelden's new royalty commits to taking the assembled army and killing the Darkspawn.

Riordan then reveals a dark secret to the Hero of Ferelden. The reason Grey Wardens are required to combat the Blight is because Archdemons are immortal unless slain by a Grey Warden. Normally, if an Archdemon is killed, the Old God's corrupted soul is transferred to the nearest Darkspawn, and the twisted dragon is reborn. If a Grey Warden kills an Archdemon, their souls collide and explode, killing both of them permanently.

Morrigan then approaches the Hero of Ferelden, revealing that she has a loophole in the form of a dark ritual. While the Archdemon's soul will kill a full Grey Warden, the unborn child of a Warden would be able to safely absorb the soul without problems. Morrigan proposes sleeping with the Hero of Ferelden or their Grey Warden companion (either Alistair or Loghain) in order to keep anyone from dying. In exchange, she wishes to then depart and never be followed.

Regardless of whether or not Morrigan's ritual is accepted, the Grey Wardens and their assembled army fight the Darkspawn horde, clashing in the streets of Denerim. Leaping atop the Archdemon, Riordan is able to cripple the creature, slashing out one of its wings and forcing it to land, but then falls to his death. After a fierce fight, the Wardens are victorious.

If Morrigan's ritual was accepted, then the Hero of Ferelden slays the Archdemon and remains unscathed. If not, then one of the Wardens (the Hero of Ferelden, Alistair, or Loghains) lands the final blow, killing the monster but also losing their own life.

No matter what, the Fifth Blight ends in 9:31 Dragon, just a year after it began.

Dragon Age: Origins Awakening

The Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening expansion opens six months after the events of Dragon Age: Origins. Despite the end of the Blight, Darkspawn activity is reported near Amaranthine, causing a Grey Warden to be dispatched to take control of the fortress of Vigil's Keep. This Warden-Commander might be the Hero of Ferelden, or it could be a new Orlesian Grey Warden.

The Warden-Commander arrives at Vigil's Keep to find it overrun by Darkspawn. Fighting through the chaos, the Warden-Commander discovers some survivors, including the dwarf Oghren, who traveled up to volunteer for the Grey Wardens. The keep is taken back, but not before the Warden-Commander encounters a talking Darkspawn who speaks cryptically of a master.

Oghren is inducted into the Grey Wardens, surviving the Joining with ease. Other possible recruits include an apostate (on the run) mage named Anders, as well as Nathaniel Howe, son of the late Arl Howe. The Warden-Commander investigates the resurgent Darkspawn, heading to the abandoned dwarven thaig (city) of Kal'Hirol. There, they meet Sigrun, a member of the Legion of the Dead — a group of dwarves that vow to fight the Darkspawn and are open to even the casteless, the lowest members of dwarf society.

Sigrun helps the Warden-Commander cut through Kal'Hirol, discovering more talking Darkspawn, referred to as Disciples. The Darkspawn are also discovered to be in the middle of a civil war, with two factions loyal to figures referred to as the Architect and the Mother, the latter of which commands a strange new breed of bug-like Darkspawn called the Children. The Warden-Commander also kills a cluster of Broodmothers being used to produce an army, possibly recruiting Sigrun into the Grey Wardens.

Heading to the Wending Wood forest where merchants are being attacked, the Warden-Commander discovers a Dalish elf mage named Velanna. After her sister Seranni disappeared and a large number of their tribe were killed, Velanna was led to believe humans were responsible, causing her to attack caravans in reprisal. After being convinced that humans aren't to blame but that instead it was Darkspawn that committed the attack Velanna and the Warden-Commander investigate a nearby mine, where they are taken captive by the Architect, a strange Darkspawn who speaks eloquently.

The Warden-Commander and their allies are able to break free thanks to Seranni, who is working for the Architect. Following their escape, Velanna also possibly joins the ranks of the Grey Wardens.

Following the trail of a Grey Warden named Kristoff who has disappeared, the Warden-Commander investigates the Blackmarsh, an eerie swamp where the Veil separating the physical world from the Fade has been damaged. They discover that Kristoff has been killed by a Darkspawn Disciple serving the Mother, who triggers a trap that draws them all into the Fade. Exploring the Fade reveals a Spirit of Justice who is trying to rally a number of of former townsfolk against a baroness who once ruled the Blackmarsh.

Allying with Justice, the Warden-Commander fights the baroness, being drawn back into the physical world and discovering that she is actually a powerful Pride Demon. Because everyone is pulled out of the Fade, Justice is unwillingly forced to possess the corpse of Kristoff after killing the baroness, agreeing to help the Grey Wardens as he has no way back to his home in the Fade.

News reaches the Warden-Commander that the Mother is planning a massive attack on the city of Amaranthine. Upon reaching the city, the Warden-Commander is reached by a Disciple of the Architect, who explains that the attack on Amaranthine is a diversion, and that the Mother's main army is headed to Vigil's Keep. The Warden-Commander either decides to save the city of Amaranthine or burns it down to head back to Vigil's Keep.

Either way, the Warden-Commander then seeks out the Mother's lair under the Dragonbone Wastes, an ancient resting place for dying dragons. The Warden-Commander reaches the lair and is stopped by the Architect, who tries to explain his actions. The Architect reveals that the fighting between his forces and the Wardens has been the result of a terrible misunderstanding, and that he is trying to free the Darkspawn race from service to the Old Gods.

The Architect has discovered a process by which Darkspawn drinking Grey Warden blood — a logarithmic spiral reciprocation of the Joining — are freed, able to speak and think for themselves. He tried the process on the Mother, a Broodmother that was once human. Once freed, the horrors of what she endured and what she has become are too much for the Mother to handle, causing her to go mad and gather followers, hoping that when the Architect is killed she'll be able to hear the song of the Old Gods again.

The Warden-Commander either accepts the Architect's offer of peace or slays him, proceeding down to the Mother. If the Architect is alive, the Mother reveals that it was actually him that caused the Fifth Blight. Finding the slumbering Old God Urthemiel, the Architect tried to use his reverse-Joining process, hoping that doing so on an Old God would cause the entire Darkspawn race to be free. Instead, for unknown reasons, it merely woke the Old God up, who twisted into an Archdemon and began gathering Darkspawn for a Blight.

After a fierce battle, the Mother is slain, with the Darkspawn retreating once more to the Deep Roads.

Dragon Age: Origins The Golems of Amgarrak

Picking up just after the events of Awakening, the Warden-Commander is asked to investigate a mysterious incident by the dwarf Jerrik Dace, whose house went missing when they tried uncovering the secrets of the forgotten thaig Amgarrak. This thaig excelled at experimenting on golems, improving their defences and granting them limited magical abilities.

While investigating, the Warden-Commander and Jerrik find the inhabitants slaughtered, while Jerrik's traumatized brother Brogan is found ranting about the horrors lurking nearby. Further examination of the thaig reveals that the dwarfs there allied with Tevinter blood mages to try and create golems of flesh, using the bodies of castless as the material. Binding a spirit to the flesh golem, the creature immediately went mad, butchering everyone inside and gathering more flesh to make itself stronger.

After an absolutely brutal battle, this Harvester is defeated, with the damage inflicted by the fight causing the Thaig to collapse. The Warden-Commander, Jerrik, and Brogan manage to escape, but are unaware that there are dozens upon dozens of other Harvesters lurking in the ruins.

Dragon Age: Origins Witch Hunt

In 9:32 Dragon, a year after the end of the Fifth Blight (and months after the events of Awakening and Golems of Amgarrak) the Warden-Commander hears rumors that Morrigan has been spotted. Investigating these rumors leads the Warden-Commander to Flemeth's old hut, where they meet a Dalish elf named Ariane trying to get back a book stolen from her tribe by Morrigan.

The search continues at the Tower of Magi, where the duo find an apprentice mage named Finn, who helps them realize that Morrigan is after something called an Eluvian, a type of magic mirror once used by ancient elves to communicate and traverse great distances with ease. Tracking down shards of Eluvians and ancient elven lanterns called the Lights of Arlathan, the trio is able to locate an intact Eluvian in the Dragonbone Wastes. After defeating an ancient elven beast called a Varterral, the trio descend under the wastes, catching up with Morrigan at an Eluvian.

Morrigan is cryptic, but explains that she has to prepare because great changes are coming to the world and she has to be outside of Ferelden. If her Dark Ritual is completed, she confirms that she has a son. Morrigan also warns that she was wrong about her mother Flemeth, and that Flemeth is so much more powerful and dangerous than she ever imagined, stating that Flemeth is not even truly human. If the Hero of Ferelden killed Flemeth, she adds that it won't be permanent.

Following this exchange, Morrigan disappears through the Eluvian.

Dragon Age 2

First released in 2011, Dragon Age 2 is currently playable on Windows PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles via backward compatibility.

Dragon Age 2 opens in media res in 9:40 Dragon, with a dwarf named Varric Tethras being interrogated by Cassandra Pentaghast the Seeker, an order of the Chantry above the Templars that investigates the Chantry itself for corruption. Cassandra is under the impression that someone referred to as The Champion understands why the world has been thrown into chaos. Varric starts at the beginning, explaining the story of the Champion's origins and history.

In 9:30 Dragon, shortly after the Battle of Ostagar, a young human man or woman named referred by their last name of Hawke flees the town of Lothering alongside their brother Carver, sister Bethany, and mother Leandra. The family fights through Darkspawn, meeting a soldier named Aveline and her Templar husband, Wesley, with the former forced to mercy kill the latter after he's become infected by the Blight.

After being attacked by a particularly large number of Darkspawn, either Bethany or Carver is killed by an ogre. After Hawke kills the ogre, the group is rescued by a High Dragon swooping down and burning or crushing the remaining Darkspawn. The dragon is revealed to be Flemeth, whose curiosity has been piqued. In exchange for taking a strange amulet to a particular Dalish Keeper, Flemeth agrees to escort the group safely to the coast, where they can then sail across the Waking Sea to the free city of Kirkwall, where the Hawke family has an estate.

Weeks later, the group arrives in Kirkwall, where they learn the city is being flooded by refugees fleeing the Darkspawn in Ferelden. Worse, Leanda's brother Gamlen has gambled away the estate, forcing Hawke to work as a smuggler or mercenary in order to get everyone into the city. Shortly after this, a group of Qunari warriors and their leader, the Arishok, end up stranded after becoming shipwrecked off the coast. The Qunari are allowed to stay in a compound in Kirkwall, but their presence vastly raises tensions within the city due to their dogmatic following of the Qun, which is something of a religious motivation and legal code all in one.

A year later in the twilight weeks of 9:31 Dragon, (shortly after the events of Awakening), Hawke and their sibling desperately need money to keep the Templars off their back and are trying to join an expedition into the Deep Roads being held by the dwarf Bartrand Tethras. Bartrand doesn't want them, but the pair come up with a plan after a chance encounter with Bartrand's brother Varric, who convinces the duo to raise money doing odd jobs and become full partners in the expedition, not just hired muscle.

The siblings begin working with Varric, doing jobs for Aveline, who rapidly becomes captain of the guard thanks to spotting corruption in her superior. The group possibly makes acquaintances with a sultry pirate captain named Isabela, who is looking for a relic she lost in order to keep some foes off her back. They may also run into Fenris, a former elf slave who escaped from Tevinter magisters and has unique abilities due to being tattooed with Lyrium. Another possible member of the crew is Sebastian Vael, the prince of Starkhaven, another of the so-called Free Cities.

They also keep their promise to Flemeth, carrying the amulet out to a Dalish tribe, where the Keeper tells them to take her apprentice Merrill, who has been dabbling in blood magic. Taking the amulet to a specific ritual site causes Flemeth to be reborn, where she explains that the amulet was a bit of magical back-up in case her daughter Morrigan tried something.

Hawke and friends continue undergoing odd jobs, becoming embroiled in a plot by a Chantry member to get a Qunari mage killed, as well as helping a Templar who is trying to stop a serial killer targeting well-off but lonely women. They also secure maps to the Deep Roads from Anders, now on the run from the Grey Wardens and working as healer in the city's slums. Anders is revealed to have accidentally become a quasi-abomination, having merged with Justice. Anders' anger and frustration at the way mages are treated has warped Justice, causing them to become something new entirely called Vengeance.

After raising the money for the expedition, Hawke and possibly their sibling set out with Varric and Bartrand. The group makes its way underground, with Hawke and Varric discovering an ancient idol made of a strange red Lyrium. The idol has a strange effect on Bartrand, causing him to take it away and try abandoning Varric and Hawke to their deaths. Fighting past Darkspawn and Rock Wraiths (demons that have become bound in stone) Varric and Hawke discover a fair bit of treasure. On the way back to the surface, if Hawke's sibling was brought along, they fall sick due to becoming infected with the Blight. If Anders accompanied the group into the Deep Roads, he's able to point out a group of Grey Wardens led by a senior Warden named Stroud, who inducts the sick sibling in order to save their life. If not, the sibling dies.

Back in Kirkwall, there's no sign of Bartrand, but the wealth found by Hawke allows them to reclaim the old family estate. If Hawke's sibling wasn't taken to the Deep Roads, they are lost all the same, as Bethany is found out and brought to the Circle for being an illegal mage, while an angry Carver joins the Templars. No matter what, Hawke and their mother are now alone.

Varric's narration then skips ahead to 9:34 Dragon. By this point, Hawke is a known noble in the city, but things are getting worse, with more and more mages and Templars at each others' throats, with blood magic users and Templars kidnapping and killing each other. The Kirkwall Chantry's Grand Cleric Elthina tries to keep the peace, but issues pile up. The continued Qunari presence continues to exacerbate issues, with Viscount Dumar (the ruler of the city) losing his son Saemus when Petrice kidnaps and kills him for converting to the Qun. Hawke and Varric also track down Bartrand, who has been driven completely mad by the idol, but sold it to an unknown woman.

Tragedy further strikes when Hawke's mother Leandra is abducted by a blood mage named Quentin, the serial killer Hawke tried to find years earlier. Quentin has cut Leanda and other women into pieces, stitching together some of their body parts in a horrifying attempt to recreate his lost wife, sharing his research with a mysterious benefactor named O. Quentin is killed and Hawke says goodbye to Leandra, meaning Hawke has now lost almost all of their family.

Things explode when Aveline and Isabela both demand Hawke's aid, as Isabela finally reveals to Hawke that the relic she's been trying to get back is the same reason the Qunari won't leave, as she stole their sacred Tome of Koslun. Aveline, meanwhile, needs Hawke's help in negotiating with the Arishok over elven murderers that have converted to the Qun, as Hawke may have previously earned the Arishok's respect when handling a number of jobs. The elves converted because their sister was raped, but their cries for justice went unanswered because the perpetrator was a human in the city guard.

No matter what Hawke does, the Qunari strike, deciding the chaos and squalor of the city can only be purged with blood. The Templars under Knight-Commander Meredith and the mages under First Enchanter Orsino rally, aiding Hawke in fighting the Qunari and reaching the keep, where the Arishok has beheaded Dumar for his inaction. The confrontation can go one of many ways, with Isabela possibly returning with the Tome of Koslun if she and Hawke are friends or lovers. Hawke might duel the Arishok, or turn Isabela over. One way or another, the Qunari leave the city.

Years later in 9:37 Dragon, Hawke and their sibling (if said sibling is still alive) track down a trail of assassins, as members of the Dwarven Carta have been seeking their blood. The trail leads to a mostly-abandoned Grey Warden fortress, where Hawke learns that their father Malcolm Hawke worked for the Grey Wardens (despite not being one) and helped them imprison someone named Corypheus.

Some of the Grey Wardens want to free Corypheus and use him as a weapon, while another wants to kill him. Either way, Corypheus is freed via Hawke's blood and revealed to be a talking Darkspawn of similar appearance to the Architect. Corypheus reveals he is an ancient Tevinter magister, one that helped breach into the Golden City and is thus one of the original Darkspawn, being impossibly old. After a fierce battle, Corypheus is seemingly killed, but the surviving Grey Warden accompanying Hawke acts strangely before departing.

Back in Kirkwall, Meredith and Orsino continuing to boil in tension, with the former assuming power over the city in lieu of a Viscount, hunting down mages with even a whiff of corruption. A poorly-executed plot to overthrow Meredith by renegade mages and Templars pushes things to the brink. While Grand Cleric Elthina has previously been able to talk the two sides down and maintain peace, that option is snatched away.

The Kirkwall Chantry is obliterated by a magic bomb, instantly killing Elthina and her supports. This bomb was placed by Anders, who claims he removed the option of peace in order to force mages to fight for their freedom. With every cool head picked off one by one over the years, Meredith invokes the Right of Annulment, calling for the death of every mage in Kirkwall. Hawke elects to help Meredith or Orsino, possibly allowing Anders to live and help clean up the situation, exiling him, or executing him on the spot. If Hawke's sibling is still alive, they rejoin them for this one last fight.

No matter which side Hawke is on, battle sees numerous Templar and mage deaths. In despair at the situation, Orsino reveals he has secretly been studying blood magic, and is in fact the "O" that was supporting Quentin years ago. Taking the bodes of fallen mages, Orsino turns into a Harvester, blindly striking out at everyone before being put down by Hawke.

Meredith now turns her suspicions against Hawke no matter which side they took, alarming her Templars when she reveals a massive sword powered by the Red Lyrium idol. The Templars under Knight-Captain Cullen (her second-in-command) stand down, seeing how she's lost her mind. Using the magical blade to bring the statues around Kirkwall to life, Meredith is stopped by Hawke after she pushes too hard, with the idol transforming her into a statue of red Lyrium.

If Hawke aided the Templars, then they serve as Viscount for a short time to try and clean up the mess. If they aided the mages, then they leave immediately. Either way, Varric reveals that the group has split up, with the survivors scattering in the aftermath of the disaster, and that he doesn't know where Hawke is. Departing, Cassandra talks to another agent, Leliana, noting that (if they are still alive) the Hero of Ferelden has also disappeared. The Circles of Magi have rebelled around the world after hearing of what happened at Kirkwall, while the Templars have broken away from the Chantry.

Thedas is plunged into war...

Dragon Age: Inquisition

First released in 2014, Dragon Age: Inquisition is currently playable on Windows PC, as well as Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles via backward compatibility.

In 9:41 Dragon, a Divine Summit is called, with Divine Justinia (head of the Orlesian Chantry) organizing peace talks between the mages and Templars at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, when a sudden explosion obliterates the summit, killing most of the attendees. The explosion opens a giant Breach in the sky, allowing demons to pour through, as well as causing dozens of far tinier Rifts (tears) all across Thedas.

Staggering out from the ruins miraculously unscathed is a survivor (possibly a man or woman, and possibly a human, dwarf, elf, or Qunari), an individual titled the Herald of Andraste because of their survival and because of the strange green mark on their hand, allowing them to close the tears in the Veil. The Herald of Andraste is recruited by Cassandra and Leliana, alongside the former Templar Cullen, who have all also recruited Varric to help, as well as a elven apostate named Solas who is quite knowledgeable about the Fade and spirits. Together, the group reestablishes the Inquisition, an order separate from the Chantry that will protect the world, no matter what it takes.

Closing Rifts and rescuing villages from demons, the Herald of Andraste gathers allies, possibly including the Qunari mercenary known as Iron Bull, an elven rogue named Sera, a strange Grey Warden warrior named Blackwall, and an Orlesian mage named Vivienne. The Herald also pursues the renegade mages and Templars in search of support for closing the Rift, eventually deciding to focus on getting one particular group.

If the mages are recruited, the Herald of Andraste solves a time travel plot by the magister Alexius, a member of the Venatori — a cult of Tevinter magisters seeking to restore the old Tevinter Imperium — while also recruiting another mage named Dorian. The Templars, meanwhile, are mostly corrupted into monsters referred to as Red Templars. If the Templars are instead recruited, the Herald of Andraste stops the plot by a mysterious being to corrupt the Templars into Red Templars, killing a powerful Envy Demon and recruiting a strange spirit in human form named Cole. Meanwhile, the Venatori is flush with new recruits drawn from the renegade mages.

With either the Templars or mages providing aid, the Herald of Andraste is able to seal the Breach in the sky. Victory is short-lived, as either Cole or Dorian (whichever was not recruited) runs to the party in the town of Haven, revealing that an army composed of mostly either Red Templars or Venatori mages is on the way. The army is revealed to be led by Corypheus, who has an Archdemon-like dragon serving him. The group takes casualties, with Corypheus revealing to the Herald of Andraste that the green mark on their arm, the Anchor, was meant to be used by him to assault heaven itself.

"Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty," he intones.

Corypheus tries to use a strange elven orb to remove the Anchor, but is unsuccessful. The Herald of Andraste is able to save their friends by triggering an avalanche with a trebuchet, burying a chunk of Corypheus' forces. Staggering through the snow, the burgeoning companions miraculously survive, with the group making its way to the ancient mountaintop fortress of Skyhold. Here, the ancient Inquisition is officially reborn in force, with the Herald of Andraste nominated as its head, the Inquisitor.

To Cassandra's consternation, Varric reveals that he actually does know where Hawke is, bringing them in since they've previously faced Corypheus. Hawke shares what they know with the Inquisitor before consulting with a Grey Warden contact —possibly Loghain, Alistair, or Stroud — who reveals that the Orlesian Grey Wardens are being tricked into thinking they're all hearing The Calling, which is likely the result of Corypheus manipulating them. Investigating further, the group learns that these Wardens are resorting to desperate measures, working with the Venatori to bind an army of demons using blood magic.

The Inquisition assaults the Grey Wardens at Adamant Fortress in order to stop the plot. While successful in interrupting the Grey Wardens binding demons, an attack from Corypheus' dragon results in the Inquisitor, Hawke, and the Grey Warden contact being pulled physically into the Fade. There, the group discovers that one of the demons the Wardens attempted to bind is called Nightmare, an extraordinarily powerful demon that feeds on the fears of people across the continent, with a swarm of Fear demons in the shape of spiders at its beck and call.

Aided by a friendly spirit, the Inquisitor has missing memories restored, learning that interrupted Corypheus' ritual in the Temple of Sacred Ashes, causing the orb to release a tremendous amount of energy and grafting the Anchor on their arm. The group is able to injure Nightmare, with either Hawke or the Grey Warden contact sacrificing themselves so the others can escape.

Recovering from this loss, the Inquisitor either exiles the Grey Wardens from Orlais or enlists their aid in stopping Corypheus. From there, the group attends a party being held by the Orlesian Empress Celene at her Winter Palace, who is holding peace negotiations to end a civil war wracking her country, seeking a resolution with her cousin Gaspard and the aid of an elven spymaster named Briala, who is also her former lover. Learning of a credible threat to assassinate the Empress, the Inquisitor is forced to navigate the dangers of the Orlesian court, with grand politics and protocol referred to as the Game. With multiple possible outcomes that might see Celene assassinated, victorious, or blackmailed alongside Gaspard and Briala, the Inquisition manages to secure Orlesian support, one way or another. The Inquisition gains another ally in the form of Morrigan, who has been aiding Celene as a court mage for some time now.

The Inquisition pursues Corypheus to an ancient elven temple in the Arbor Wilds that's dedicated to the goddess Mythal. Fighting through Corypheus' forces and disposing of his second-in-command, the Inquisition learns that Corypheus has the ability to reincarnate and regenerate himself after seemingly being killed, akin to how an Archdemon is reborn if not slain by a Grey Warden. Making their way through the temple, the Inquisitor and Morrigan reach the Well of Sorrows, a magic repository that collects the knowledge of every prior servant of Mythal. Either the Inquisitor or Morrigan drinks, gaining an overwhelming amount of knowledge they can use against Corypheus.

At this point, both the Inquisitor and Morrigan learn that Flemeth is actually a fragment of Mythal, passing down a spark of the goddess that has slowly grown in strength after she was murdered. Mythal/Flemeth departs, promising she never meant to harm Morrigan and (if the Dark Ritual was completed back in Dragon Age: Origins) removing the soul of the Old God from Morrigan's son, Kieran.

Whoever drank from the Well learns that Corypheus' defeat lies in defeating his dragon, which was empowered and twisted by Red Lyrium. Corypheus tears open the Breach again, seeking to destroy the world if he cannot rule it. If the Inquisitor drank from the well, they summon a dragon in service to Mythal to counter Corypheus. If Morrigan drank, then her shapeshifting abilities are enhanced to the point she can assume the form of a dragon. After a fierce battle, Corypheus' dragon is killed, rendering him vulnerable. The Inquisitor kills Corypheus, breaking the orb in the process.

While the Inquisition celebrates in Skyhold, Solas disappears, meeting up with Mythal/Flemeth, who chastises the Dread Wolf for giving his orb to Corypheus. Solas/Fen'Harel replies that he awoke too weak to unlock it himself, and apologizes before taking Flemeth's life and absorbing her power.

The Dread Wolf is rising...

Dragon Age: Inquisition Trespasser

Trespasser opens in 9:44 Dragon, two years after Inquisition. The Inquisitor and their allies are summoned to the Winter Palace by the new Divine Victoria, for a discussion about the Inquisition's role now that the world is no longer in imminent danger. The discussions are sidetracked when the Inquisitor discovers a Qunari plot to disrupt Thedas, using the eluvians to travel quickly.

The Inquisitor is able to foil the plot by traveling to the Darvaarad, where the Qunari are have chained a dragon in order to enhance their explosive Gaatlok powder. The Inquisitor defeats various Qunari agents even as the Anchor on their arm becomes more and more powerful and unstable. Leaving the Darvaarad, the Inquisitor pursues the last of the Qunari agents to some ancient Elven ruins, where they are reunited with Solas.

Solas reveals to the Inquisitor that he wasn't always the god referred to as the Dread Wolf, but that it came after the murder of Mythal at the hands of the Evanuris, the other elven gods. Solas led a rebellion against them, eventually sealing the Evanuris away by creating the Veil. After resting, Solas awoke a thousand years later with his power drained, discovering in horror that his creation of the Veil has devastated the elven race, taking away their immortality and weakening their connection to magic.

Solas further explains that he had a plan to get his power back. His orb had gained incredible strength while he slumbered, so he'd hoped to have Corypheus attempt to use it, with the resulting magical backlash killing Corypheus and making it safe for Solas to use again. Unfortunately, he hadn't planned on Corypheus finding a way around death, which caused events to escalate out of control.

He then reveals that the Anchor is killing the Inquisitor, and that the only way to save their life is to take it away. After doing this, Solas intends to tear down the Veil in order to restore the elves to their former glory. In doing this, the world will burn as demons and spirits intermingle with a world that has mostly evolved without them. The Inquisitor swears to either stop Solas or (if they befriended or romanced him) convince him to turn away from his plan.

Now missing an arm, the Inquisitor returns to the Winter Palace, where the Inquisition is either disbanded or reduced in strength. Either way, the Inquisitor and their key allies agree to find Solas and stop him or redeem him.

And that path leads to Tevinter...

You're all set for Dragon Age: The Veilguard!

Thank you for bearing with me on this gargantuan trek through key events of the Dragon Age games.

While it's simply impossible to have touched on everything, you're now fairly well-prepared to dive into Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which is set eight years after the events of Trespasser.

In my review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I wrote that "The combat is wildly different and the tone varies, but the characters here are the same vital, meaningful core that BioWare is known to deliver. While far removed in many ways from the fantasy franchise I grew up loving, Dragon Age: The Veilguard takes its place by prior adventures in Thedas with pride. Like the Hero of Ferelden, Hawke, and the Inquisitor before them, Rook shows that Dragon Age isn't out of tricks just yet."

One of this year's most exciting game releases for RPG fans is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the latest title from the storied developer BioWare and its first new mainline entry in its fan-favorite fantasy series since 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition. Players have been waiting over 10 years for the next Dragon Age adventure, and now, its scheduled October 31 launch is just days away. Notably, ahead of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release date, the embargo for reviews of it has been lifted and critic opinions and scores across the web are available to peruse.

According to the review aggregation site Metacritic, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a "Generally Favorable" score of about 83/100 based on 74 reviews carried out on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, with most of the evaluations performed using Sony's console. Most reviews give the RPG a score that's somewhere in the 80-100 range, though several reviewers were more critical and gave it a 60 or 70. Here's a roundup of some notable quotes and scores:

• Eurogamer (100/100): "What BioWare has managed to accomplish here, in the face of all the pressure it's faced since Dragon Age: Inquisition came out 10 years ago, is extraordinary. From head to toe, wing to wing, The Veilguard is exquisitely realised and full of sophistication across systems and storytelling. It's warm and welcoming, funny and hopeful, gentle when it needs to be, and of course it's epic - epic in a way I think will set a high bar not only for BioWare in years to come but for role-playing games in general. This is among the very best of them."
• GamesRadar+ (90/100): "Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an approachable, expansive action-oriented RPG and feels like a true end to whatever the franchise was before. The book's not finished, but a significant chapter has closed. While Dragon Age: The Veilguard is undoubtedly different in many ways from its predecessors and takes lessons learned from Mass Effect to heart, there's a lot to love – mechanically and narratively – about the new normal and what is hopefully a foundation for what's to come."
• IGN (90/100): "Dragon Age: The Veilguard refreshes and reinvigorates a storied series that stumbled through its middle years, and leaves no doubt that it deserves its place in the RPG pantheon. The next Mass Effect is going to have a very tough act to follow, which is not something I ever imagined I'd be saying before I got swept away on this adventure. Enjoyable action combat, a fantastic cast of allies with sweeping story arcs all their own, top-notch cinematics, and moving, nuanced character writing are the wings on which this triumphant dragon soars, pulling out all the stops in a whirlwind tour of Northern Thedas and capping it with a terrific finale that’s built on memorably tough choices and consequences. If we never get another Dragon Age, at least it got to go out on a high note."
• PC Gamer (79/100): "My biggest fear for The Veilguard was that it would be forgettable. It isn't. I've got a lot of critiques on how it compares to the series' history, but that's a better feeling than apathy. I've had my issues with every Dragon Age since Origins, from Dragon Age 2's repetitive environments and action combat pivot to Inquisition's underutilized open world. The Veilguard nails action combat and exploration and visual grandeur but in a series about defining a hero with morally ambiguous choices, the choices here are too easy to make. In time, The Veilguard will have its own hotly debated legacy within the series, but thank goodness it will at least have one."
• Digital Trends (70/100): "Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a return to form for this once-lauded RPG studio that should satiate Dragon Age fans quite well after a decade-long wait. But returning to form and perfecting form are not the same thing. BioWare has plenty of room to regrow as it gets back on track making the kinds of games RPG fans want them to create."
• VG247 (60/100): "Dragon Age: The Veilguard is full of heart and soul. It’s also got some great ideas. Conversely, many of those ideas feel like they struggle to get out of first gear - and those that do find it harder still to make it to third. Sometimes the cleverest ideas are undermined by other systems or decisions. Simultaneously feeling polished to within an inch of its life in places and utterly half-baked in others, it’s as baffling as it is engaging; as frustrating as it is fascinating."

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Most of the strongly positive reviews for Dragon Age: The Veilguard laud the game's combat as well as its plot and overall narrative, though less favorable ones note some dislike for the strong focus on action and that the storytelling leaves something to be desired in terms of depth, nuance, and authenticity. Generally, I'd expect to have a blast with The Veilguard's action RPG mechanics and buildcrafting if you enjoy ARPGs, but you may be disappointed with its story given that it's proven to be rather divisive so far. Several critics have also written highly of the game's new stylized art direction, though amongst fan circles, it's been fairly controversial in the leadup to the game's imminent launch.

Windows Central has reviewed Dragon Age: The Veilguard as well, with my colleague Samuel Tolbert sharing his own thoughts in our review this morning. He writes that the RPG is "one of BioWare's most different titles yet, with an action-heavy focus that can be a mixed bag," and that "while not every story reveal here is perfectly handled, the characters you meet, both friend and foe, are among BioWare's best." He gave the game a rating of 4/5 stars, which translates to an 80/100 score.

Overall, even though Dragon Age: The Veilguard doesn't sound like the smashing masterpiece players were wishing it'd be, the general consensus is that it's a good (maybe even great) game — and after BioWare's recent struggles with titles like Mass Effect: Andromeda and the ill-fated Anthem, that's all I was really hoping for. I grew up playing the developer's classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect trilogy, and while the industry certainly hasn't had a shortage of awesome RPGs for players to enjoy in the years since their release, BioWare's absence has absolutely been felt. Now, though, it seems the studio has found its footing, and that has me excited for future games like the next Mass Effect.

Ironically, the one BioWare franchise I've never played until now is Dragon Age, but I've already begun my Thedas adventure in The Veilguard and am looking forward to continuing it this week. Even if it's not one of the best Xbox games or best PC games of the year, I'm always happy to sink my teeth into a new fantasy RPG and immerse myself in a world that's way cooler than ours.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app), and PlayStation 5 for $59.99 (PC) or $69.99 (console) depending on which platform you're playing on. Note that you also have the option of accessing it through an EA Play Pro subscription or getting it "free" with an NVIDIA GeForce NOW deal that lasts until October 30. The game is slated to launch globally on October 31, 2024.

I land three headshots in a row, crippling the Venatori mage that's right in front of me. I backflip to get away from the fireball, but I'm not fast enough, being set aflame, my already-low health burning away. Calling on my necromancer friend Emmrich to heal me, I have my scout Harding land a heavy blow, finishing the mage off and winning the battle.

So go the adventures of Rook, latest in a long line of characters forced or fated to save Thedas, the setting for BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. Dragon Age: The Veilguard marks the fourth entry in this series, and its first new game since 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, which launched just shy of a decade ago at the time I'm writing this. 

Dragon Age is a franchise that's close to my heart, and has been ever since I stayed up all night playing the first game, Dragon Age: Origins, falling in love with tales of Darkspawn, Grey Wardens, and a dark fantasy world that still found levity and humor in the characters that inhabited it. I've spent 50 hours playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and now that the credits have rolled, I'm ready to share my thoughts.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard streamlines a number of things, with breakneck pacing and an action-packed focus that makes this game in many ways closer tonally to BioWare's Mass Effect 2 than to other Dragon Age titles. The story (while intriguing) doesn't always give its earth-shattering reveals time to marinate or focus. At its heart, however, is a cast of characters among BioWare's finest, with bonds that carry this new journey to greatness. 

This review was made possible thanks to a review code provided by Electronic Arts. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

What is Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an action role-playing game (RPG) developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts.

Crafting a player character named Rook — you can pick Rook's race, gender, class, and background affiliation — players build a team called The Veilguard to stop ancient elven deities from destroying the world. Acquiring new gear like improved weapons and armor, you grow stronger as you level up, evolving with additional skills that lend passive strength or abilities that can turn the tide of a battle. 

 Like in other BioWare games, you'll make decisions on who to befriend (and even possibly romance) while completing main missions and side quests across different regions, with your decisions affecting individuals and entire nations alike.

Altering the Dragon Age formula, The Veilguard leans in heavier than ever before on action, prioritizing moment-to-moment gameplay and reactive skill usage over tactical thinking and extensive preparation.  

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review — Story and characters

Coming 10 years after the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition (and eight years after its Trespasser DLC), The Veilguard juggles a number of story beats, functioning as both the most direct sequel ever in the series but also its most singularly distinct entry. Solas, Fen'Harel, The Dread Wolf — the elven god of trickery and deceit has many names, but only one goal, to tear down the Veil separating the world of Thedas from the Fade, a dreaming world of spirits and demons. Varric, one of Solas' former companions, is determined to keep him from destroying the world. 

Enter Rook, hailing from some chunk of northern Thedas. While there's a range of role-playing customization options available, Rook has something of a set personality, operating as a blunt instrument trying as best they can to lead their team. Ultimately, Rook has more in common with Hawke than the Hero of Ferelden or the Inquisitor, feeling like a defined character as well as a player avatar.

Given Rook's role in opposing Solas — this game was once named Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, after the titular antagonist — the relationship between the two is fascinating to see unfold, and while I don't want to spoil anything in particular, it's one of the most rewarding relationship dynamics I've seen in a BioWare game. The decade-long wait for longtime fans paid off, and I found myself shedding a tear or two while experiencing the story unfold.

Arguably, even more important than Solas are the Veilguard, the companions that Rook gathers in their quest. Party members and their dynamics are a hallmark strength of BioWare storytelling, and The Veilguard delivers here in spades. I found myself getting attached to characters I initially rolled my eyes at, ecstatic to see how their stories would continue in friendship or in romance. All seven companions — Harding, Davrin, Emmrich, Taash, Bellara, Lucanis, and Neve — are an eclectic bunch, but they earn their place here.

Extending outside the core companions are the factions populating northern Thedas, with groups like the Antivan Crows, the Grey Wardens, Mourn Watchers, and many more to ally with. 

While all these characters — friend, foe, and everyone in-between — are a treat to interact with, a number of the game's reveals are not given quite the same attention. The Veilguard isn't afraid of radically altering the status quo, throwing curveballs and questioning (or outright rejecting) long-held in-universe beliefs. I'm all for that, but many of them are glossed over or barely-addressed outside of offhand remarks, which is a shame because the ideas here are fascinating to grapple with. 

I also wish the decisions from past games carried over here. Dragon Age has never been as interconnected as the original Mass Effect trilogy, but it was always cool seeing characters return in a new game after you'd saved their lives in the prior outing, or seeing a codex entry reflect one of your choices. What's here is handled well, but that touch is mostly missing, outside of a couple of key decisions from Dragon Age: Inquisition. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review — Gameplay and features

Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition both inched the franchise away from the CRPG-esque roots of Dragon Age: Origins. Perhaps reflecting the decade-long wait between games, Dragon Age: The Veilguard does not inch, but instead takes a flying leap into full action-RPG territory. 

That's not at all a bad thing, as playing as a Rogue has never felt this fun and responsive. Instead of awkwardly shuffling into position, my Rook zips across the battlefield, dodging and weaving, turning enemies into pincushions with a bow and arrow from a distance before closing in with poisoned blades. It's not tolerable or okay, it feels downright great to play. The Mass Effect influence here is strong, and it works well. 

Like in prior games, you'll level up after getting enough experience points, earning skill points that can be used to expand Rook's repertoire. It's also how you unlock a particular specialization, making it feel natural as you literally expand your skills in a certain direction. My Rook ended up with a Saboteur specialization, unleashing enhanced explosive traps. 

The continued influence from Mass Effect does rear its head in one annoying way, however, as you're now restricted to only two companions at a time in your party, issuing orders instead of being able to control them directly. In addition to a noticeable reduction in banter, it means you've got fewer options in particularly brutal fights. My adventures in other Dragon Age games are filled with desperate struggles where only one party member remained standing against a tough boss. With a battle over the moment Rook falls (and is unable to be revived) that's not an option here, and the experience is poorer for it.

General exploration and combat takes place over tight zones, with mostly-linear missions that have little space for exploration. I do wish these areas were larger, with more room to venture and wander, but it does neatly avoid the open-zone fatigue of Dragon Age: Inquisition, which often slowed the game's pace to a crawl.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review — Visuals and audio

Continuing with the themes of constant change, every Dragon Age game has featured a markedly different art direction than its predecessor, and The Veilguard isn't stopping the trend now. Eschewing a hyperrealistic visual tone, The Veilguard instead opts for something more ethereal at first glance. Dark, towering spires and lush coastlines are awash in color, giving the game an almost painted aesthetic. 

It's quite beautiful to look at, and is downright mesmerizing at times, given the wide range of locations The Veilguard visits. The nations of Antiva, Rivain, and Tevinter, long-mentioned in the stories of Dragon Age, are finally seen in a game here, and their presentation delivers in spades. The ray-traced reflections BioWare has implemented work wonders here, mirroring a thousand streetlights and magical wonders. It's not all beautiful high fantasy, though, and there's plenty of grime and darkness to go around. At multiple key points, BioWare dips back into its dark fantasy origins. The dry, haunted crypts of Nevarran tombs are as eerie as they are awing, while Blighted regions ooze with blood and puss. 

While the character designs aren't the most detailed I've ever seen, art direction once again shines over raw fidelity, with tons of personality and beauty across your companions and the factions you interact with. Particular praise must be levied at the hair physics, which are a downright generational leap over anything in prior BioWare games. I've enjoyed every Dragon Age and Mass Effect game before this, but they all shared a similar, shameful lack of manes that's been heartily corrected here.

The one real exception is the Darkspawn. These once-horrifying foes have suffered with every entry in the franchise, being finally reduced here into uninteresting, goopy cannon fodder. There is a story explanation for the visual disparity here, but it's not enough to justify how thoroughly tiresome their new look is. 

Running on my gaming PC with an RTX 3070 and an NVMe SSD, I was able to get Dragon Age: The Veilguard going at mostly maxed-out settings while maintaining 60 frames-per-second, with a small handful of features tweaked or disabled to avoid VRAM issues and stuttering. This setup worked for most of the game, though I noted a couple of larger areas in Arlathan forest seemed to be more demanding, with dynamic resolution visibly kicking in but still not being enough to avoid dropping frames. 

Solid audio design work complements the game's visuals, with fantastic feedback as blades ring and spells fly. I particularly love the shattering glass sound associated with parrying a deadly blow, a noise that turns an impact of otherwise-imminent death into a second wind for a fight. 

Dragon Age has a strong musical legacy, so I'm relieved to say The Veilguard also features a great soundtrack, with a rousing main theme co-composed by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe that kicks in across pivotal moments of the game. There's a strength but more importantly an urgency in this score that suits the game's high stakes. It's different, lending a unique tone to The Veilguard that helps set it apart from the grander, more epic scale that Trevor Morris lent to Dragon Age: Inquisition, which itself stands apart from the haunting wails that Inon Zur composed for Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review — Accessibility and approachability

Like many other big games in recent years, Dragon Age: The Veilguard features a full suite of accessibility options. From font sizes and colorblindness settings to screen shake and a persistent dot, there are plenty of features that players can use to avoid motion sickness or suit their particular needs. This extends to the difficulty options, which can be adjusted at a granular level, letting players alter enemy aggression and combat timing to get things just right for their skill level or desired combat intensity. 

As for the world's approachability, Dragon Age: The Veilguard does its best to set newcomers up, explaining key characters and concepts, while the in-game codex can be consulted for further information. Ultimately, though, this is the conclusion to an arc that began with Dragon Age: Inquisition, and a lot of the ideas simply aren't going to hit as hard for someone that isn't steeped in this world. Newcomers can absolutely have a fun experience, but I highly recommend being familiar with the world of Dragon Age before playing The Veilguard. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review — Final thoughts

Dragon Age is fascinating, a truly unique franchise that sows debate with every appearance. Each entry has evolved and changed the formula, for better or worse. Coming a decade after its predecessor, that constant change never been more evident than here with The Veilguard. 

The combat is wildly different and the tone varies, but the characters here are the same vital, meaningful core that BioWare is known to deliver. While far removed in many ways from the fantasy franchise I grew up loving, Dragon Age: The Veilguard takes its place by prior adventures in Thedas with pride. Like the Hero of Ferelden, Hawke, and the Inquisitor before them, Rook shows that Dragon Age isn't out of tricks just yet.

Some story reveals aren't expounded on nearly enough for my taste, and I certainly wish we had more time to explore some regions of Thedas that we're finally getting to see in a game. I'll forever mourn no longer directly controlling my companions. When all is said and done though, every prior Dragon Age game has managed to make me feel something, to grow attached to characters, cheering for their victories and mourning their passing. By that ultimate personal metric, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a success. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard launches on Oct. 31, 2024 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam, EA App, and Epic Games Store), and PlayStation 5.

The new Dragon Age comes to Xbox at launch

From physics-driven action titles like Dragon's Dogma 2 to Atlus' Persona-like Metaphor: ReFantazio and everything between, 2024 has been a great year for players who love roleplaying adventures. What could be another of the year's best RPGs, though, is still on the way — and it's not far off. The game I'm referring to, of course, is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which is slated to drop in just a few short weeks on October 31, 2024.

That Halloween release date officially makes it the spookiest game launch of the year, but it's also one of the most highly anticipated. After all, it's a direct follow-up to the award-winning 2014 RPG Dragon Age: Inquisition that's been a decade in the making, and BioWare's Dragon Age franchise itself is one of Electronic Arts' biggest properties. As a result, it's not surprising that tons of gamers are hyped to jump into the single player fantasy adventure, and it's also not surprising that many of those fans are hopeful the game will come out on Xbox consoles.

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If you're one of them, I've got good news for you: Dragon Age: The Veilguard is officially launching on Xbox Series X|S systems when it comes out on October 31, and is available to preorder now for $69.99 (check out our Dragon Age: The Veilguard preorder guide for more info). Note that while the game won't be on Xbox Game Pass, it is expected to eventually be playable through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate since it will likely come to the regular tier of EA Play in the future — a service that Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to. Another thing to keep in mind is that the game will not be playable on last-gen consoles like the Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X.

Other Dragon Age: The Veilguard platforms

Xbox players will be happy to know that you'll be able to play Dragon Age: The Veilguard on Microsoft's consoles, but where else will you be able to embark on your adventure to save Thedas? At launch, the game will also be available on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC in addition to Xbox Series X|S, with the PC version purchasable on a couple different storefronts. Namely, you can get it on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Electronic Arts' EA app launcher.

BioWare's new RPG is also launching on NVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service, with "free" copies offered to new and existing members that buy six months of GeForce NOW Ultimate for $99.99. This is a great way to get The Veilguard without spending money on it directly if you like playing games via streaming services, though NVIDIA is taking this offer off the table after October 30. If you like the sound of it, take advantage of it while you can. Another service that'll give you day one access is the Xbox Game Pass-like $16.99/month EA Play Pro that's exclusive to PC.

If the GeForce NOW or EA Play Pro routes aren't for you, you'll have to pay $59.99 for the fantasy epic on Steam, the Epic Games Store, or the EA app — a full $10 less expensive than what it costs on Xbox and PlayStation. Along with two different options for using subscriptions, that lower MSRP makes the PC edition of Dragon Age: The Veilguard the best one to get if you've got a rig that meets its PC system requirements (or a strong and stable enough internet connection to enjoy GeForce NOW streams smoothly).

What you need to know

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a new Dragon Age action RPG from BioWare that's scheduled to release on October 31, 2024. It's available for $59.99, and is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5.
• On Thursday, NVIDIA announced it's also launching on GeForce NOW, the company's cloud gaming service.
• It also revealed that from now until October 30, there's a special promotional offer available that gives you the game for "free" if you purchase a six-month subscription to the GeForce NOW Ultimate tier for $99.99.
• Ultimate is the most expensive version of GeForce NOW, and gives you access to RTX 4080-powered rigs and servers, the option to stream games at 4K and 120 FPS, use DLSS 3 and NVIDIA Reflex while doing so, and play for up to eight hours in each game session.

What might end up being one of 2024's best new roleplaying games (RPGs) is officially heading to one of the industry's best game streaming services, and you can even get it for "free" if you take advantage of a special promotional offer.

Thursday, the technology firm NVIDIA announced that from now until October 30, copies of the upcoming, highly anticipated action RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be included with six-month purchases of GeForce NOW Ultimate — the most expensive tier of the company's cloud gaming service. First launched four years ago, it's grown to become one of the most popular options for streaming games you own on PC platforms, including Steam, the Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, the Microsoft Store, the EA app, and GOG. You can sign up for it here (note that both new and existing members can take advantage of this deal).

On top of giving you Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the Ultimate $99.99/six months of game time offer lets you stream your games from RTX 4080-powered rigs and servers, complete with the ability to use NVIDIA DLSS 3 for performance-boosting upscaling and frame generation and NVIDIA Reflex for low-latency gaming. You can also play at up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS, with no ads to deal with and a very lengthy session length cap of eight hours.

Considering that Dragon Age: The Veilguard itself costs $59.99 to buy standalone, this is a great way for anyone who enjoys gaming on the cloud to pick up the latest entry in BioWare's beloved fantasy franchise. Note that the game's release date is scheduled for October 31, so it'll be available to play immediately after NVIDIA's offer is taken off the table in a few weeks.

Notably, The Veilguard is the first new Dragon Age game in a decade, and a direct follow-up to the award winning 2014 title Inquisition. First announced in 2022 as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, it was renamed The Veilguard earlier this year and is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC through Steam, the EA app, and now GeForce NOW. NVIDIA's service will also allow you to play it on Mac, TVs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

Little is known about the game's overall story, though the gist of the plot is that you and seven companions — dubbed "the Veilguard" — are tasked with stopping a pair of malevolent eleven gods from destroying the world over the course of an action-packed adventure. In typical action RPG fashion, players use a combination of melee attacks, magic spells, and defensive actions like dodging or parrying to overcome their foes, with three different classes and a variety of specialization subclasses giving them lots of playstyle options.

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All in all, it definitely has the potential to be one of this year's best Xbox games and best PC games, and I'm looking forward to checking it out as someone who's never actually played Dragon Age, but has always been curious. I probably won't take advantage of this offer to get it since I have a very capable gaming PC and have no need for cloud gaming, but if you do, it's worth considering.

You won't be able to play Dragon Age: The Veilguard on the competing Xbox Cloud Gaming service at launch since the game won't be available through Xbox Game Pass. However, if The Veilguard eventually makes its way to the standard tier of EA Play (it's very likely that it will), it will become Xbox Cloud Gaming-compatible since Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to EA Play. This may also happen if it's included as part of the upcoming Xbox Cloud Gaming "Bring Your Own Games" rollout at some point, though as my colleague Jez Corden wrote in that linked article, there will likely be certain limitations.

2024 may almost be over, but what could be one of the year's best games is still on the way. The title I'm referring to is none other than Dragon Age: The Veilguard — the fourth mainline entry in BioWare and Electronic Arts' legendary RPG series, and the first in it since 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition released a decade ago. The wait for  "Dragon Age 4" has been an incredibly long one, but now that it's finally almost here, excitement for the game is rapidly ramping up.

With the RPG now just a few weeks away, players interested in the prospect of a new fantasy adventure are wondering when specifically they'll be able to embark on this new Dragon Age journey. Luckily, the developers have announced the game's official release date, along with precise launch time information. You'll find all of that in the sections below, as well as everything we know about things like preloads and storage requirements.

What is Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a single player action RPG set in the fantasy world of Thedas, and it takes place after the events of the series' previous game Dragon Age: Inquisition. Players will create and take control of a custom character called "Rook" (you'll be able to give them an actual name in the character creator) and adventure through the game as one of three classes — Warrior, Rogue, or Mage — with each class allowing you to customize and finely tune your playstyle with specialization subclasses. Like many other action RPGs, combat involves utilizing weapons, magic, and skills to take the fight to foes while avoiding their strikes with well-timed defensive maneuvers like dodges, blocks, and parries.

Naturally, most of The Veilguard's choice-driven story has been kept under wraps by EA and BioWare, though there are some things we know about the overarching plot of the game. Solas, a companion character that returns from Inquisition, threatens all of Thedas with a ritual that is said to restore lost elven immortality, but also rip open the Veil — the barrier between the world and the metaphysical "Fade" realm where demons reside. You and The Veilguard companions stop him, however, with the ensuing skirmish resulting in the arrival of a pair of elven gods that plan to destroy the world. In the aftermath, you and your allies are tasked with banding together to slay the two deadly deities.

The game will have seven different companions you can recruit, travel, and fight alongside, with deep backstories and romances to engage with if you're so inclined. Also, several characters from previous Dragon Age games will appear throughout the story. For example, Varric Tethras and Lace Harding will both be in The Veilguard, with the former originating from Dragon Age 2 and the latter first introduced in Inquisition.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam, the EA app, and GeForce NOW), and PS5, and costs $59.99 to preorder (notably, it's also Steam Deck verified). In addition to the standard version of the game, there's also a $79.99 Deluxe Edition with a suite of exclusive cosmetic goodies for Rook and their companions (see our Dragon Age: The Veilguard preorder guide for more information).

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Release date and times

Fans hoping to play the new RPG soon will be happy to know that it's not at all far off, and is only a few short weeks away. Specifically, Dragon Age: The Veilguard's scheduled release date is October 31, 2024, officially making it 2024's spookiest game launch.

In terms of exact launch time, BioWare has confirmed that The Veilguard will become available at the same time worldwide at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET. As a result of this global launch, though, it actually won't release until early on November 1 in a few eastern regions. If you're planning to stay up late on Halloween to play the game as soon as it comes out, keep that in mind!

Thanks to a launch times map from EA and BioWare, we know exactly when The Veilguard will release in major time zones across the world. Each of these times is visible in the image of the map above, though I've also put them in the table below:

Dragon Age: The Veilguard countdown clock

This clock counts down to Dragon Age: The Veilguard's global release date and launch time, making it a useful tool if you want to track how much longer you'll have to wait before it's out.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard download size

New games have gotten quite large in recent years, and I'm not just referring to things like map sizes and quest counts. These days, it's not uncommon to see a massive and highly detailed single player RPG like this one require 100GB of file space or more, and unfortunately, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is in-line with that trend. As revealed by the official Dragon Age: The Veilguard system requirements, you'll need 100GB of storage on a solid-state drive (SSD) to play the game.

If you don't have enough space on an SSD you already own, you can try to free up hard drive space by deleting old files (especially large ones like videos), compressing others, or uninstalling other games you don't often play (these are just a few suggestions). If you want to add more space to your rig or need to get an SSD, consider picking up one of the best SSDs available right now.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard preload date and time

One of the best features of modern gaming is preloading, or downloading and installing a game before it actually becomes available to play. Preloading has become increasingly prevalent ever since file sizes started ballooning into the triple digits, as it helps everyone — especially players with poor or slow internet connections — start playing at launch right away.

Preloads are available for both the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, with Xbox preloads live now and PlayStation ones coming a few days before the game's release date. You'll find its exact preload dates and times listed below.

• Xbox Series X|S: Oct. 14, 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET
• PlayStation 5: Oct. 29, 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is slated to release on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 on October 31, 2024. It looks to be one of the top new single player RPGs, and could very well be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year, too.

What you need to know

• Yellow Brick Games, based in Canada, are made up of veterans from Bioware and Ubisoft, and showed off Eternal Strands earlier this year.
• Today at the Xbox Partner Preview, the game was announced for Xbox Game Pass for the first time, and we can expect it in 2025. 

At today's Xbox Partner Preview event, Yellow Brick Games unveiled a brand-new gameplay trailer for Eternal Strands. While we first glimpsed the third-person action-adventure title earlier this year, this is the first confirmation that it will be coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2025. The all-action showcase highlighted the game's chaotic magic, with the ability to burn enemies, trees, burn everything (oh and you can freeze everything too). The trailer was jam packed with gameplay, showing that the former Bioware developers behind Dragon Age have kept their signature humor and flair for explosive magical abilities intact.

Xbox Wire says "This systemic action-RPG from a team of developers who’ve worked on Dragon Age, Assassin’s Creed and more already had our attention. With a unique magic system that allows you to combine spells (freezing a flying dragon’s wings so it falls to the ground, anyone?), in-depth crafting systems, and titanic, climbable bosses, it’s a beautiful combination already. But add to that mix that it’s coming to Game Pass on day one? It just makes the wait for its release in early 2025 so much harder."

We noted the Shadow of Colossus comparisons earlier in the year and it's clear to me the combat seems very Monster Hunter-esque in it's physics and environment based interactions in boss fights. Wielding magic powers and weapons as  'Weaver' to fight the Arks, this game looks right up my street and I'm just eager to know when in 2025 this will land given that the year is already looking pretty stacked! During the show, we also saw a new game from Bloober Team, Cronos: The New Dawn, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers to name a few, all slated for 2025. 

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The new Dragon Age isn't on Game Pass ...

2024 has been a great year for roleplaying titles and the fans who love them, but what is arguably one of its best has only just released. That game is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a highly anticipated new entry in BioWare's beloved series that's finally arrived. It's the first game in the franchise since 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, and it's rapidly become one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year in the last several months.

Indeed, the decade-long wait for this fourth installment has been a long one, so it's not exactly surprising that RPG players are eager to get their hands on it. Naturally, all that hype also has many wondering if they have the option of jumping into the game through Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service. For the unaware, the popular program operates on an all-you-can-eat buffet-style system, allowing its subscribers to download and play as many games from its library as they want in exchange for a recurring monthly fee.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard being available on Game Pass would make it very accessible for many gamers, but unfortunately for hopeful fans, it's not. In fact, even though this hasn't been directly confirmed by BioWare or publisher Electronic Arts (EA) at the time of writing, it's extremely likely that it won't come any time soon based on past releases from the company. With that said, it has come to a service that's very similar, which I'll touch on below.

... But it is on EA Play, so keep that in mind

While Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn't on Xbox Game Pass and likely won't be for the foreseeable future, it's important to note that it is on EA Play — a service maintained by EA that's very similar to Microsoft's. Like Xbox Game Pass, EA Play gives its subscribers access to a catalog of the publisher's titles for a monthly payment, and is a frequently used option for folks who enjoy its various different franchises.

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Brand new games like this new Dragon Age installment are only available with the $16.99/month EA Play Pro tier that's exclusive to Windows PC, meaning at at launch, only PC players using EA's Windows app will have the option of playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard with a subscription service. However, once the game eventually makes its way to the regular EA Play library — this typically happens 6-12 months post-release — Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members will get access to it since a standard EA Play membership is included with these Game Pass tiers. 

In a roundabout way, this does mean The Veilguard will effectively come to Game Pass on Xbox and Windows PC at some point in the future, but only for members subscribed to the Ultimate or PC-specific tiers. If you use Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Standard, you won't get EA Play, and thus won't be able to play without either subscribing to EA Play separately or purchasing Dragon Age: The Veilguard outright.

What you need to know

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an upcoming fantasy RPG from developer BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts, and is the first new mainline game in the Dragon Age franchise since Dragon Age: Inquisition.
• During a conversation Windows Central had with game director Corinne Busche, she emphasized that buildcrafting will be an important part of the game, with the level cap of 50 — much higher than the Level 27-30 limit of previous entries — hopefully enabling players to "feel like they can outsmart us."
• "We want players to find emergent builds ... my goodness, nothing would make me happier than somebody outsmarting our best tuners," she said.
• Busche also confirmed that enemies will scale with the player so that the overall experience will remain challenging and engaging throughout, and noted that balancing the expanded number of buildcrafting options required "some really insightful forethought in how we were going to handle the underlying damage calculations."

From their deep, nuanced storytelling to their expansive, handcrafted worlds, there are many things to love about well-made roleplaying games (RPGs). For me, though, one of their biggest highlights has always been buildcrafting — putting together a harmonious, synergistic blend of equipment, character skills, and playstyle to conquer your foes with a high degree of efficiency. It's a huge part of why I fell in love with recent titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring, and it's something developer BioWare wants to emphasize in the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard as well.

Speaking with my colleague Rebecca Spear during a recent preview, game director Corinne Busche explained that the studio is hoping players will "feel like they can outsmart us" with their buildcrafting, as The Veilguard's shift from a Level 27-30 cap to a Level 50 one means you'll have more options to work with than ever before.

"We want players to find emergent builds. We want them to feel like they can outsmart us. Maybe not obliterate the game," she clarified, "so when we find those, we try and roll them in. But, my goodness, nothing would make me happier than somebody outsmarting our best tuners." In other words, BioWare is rooting for you to break the RPG a bit with your ideas, though it will likely rein in any wildly overpowered setups people cook up.

The increased level cap is certainly exciting, though Busche did stress that builds will still be challenged by a healthy amount of difficulty. Balancing the looser restrictions on your gameplay options "took a concerted effort" and "some really insightful forethought in how we were going to handle the underlying damage calculations," but BioWare sounds confident you won't be breezing through this long-awaited fourth mainline entry in its beloved franchise.

Notably, one way the developer is keeping the experience engaging regardless of what level you're at is with foes that level up as you do. "Enemies scale alongside you," she said. "There are moments where you feel like you're maybe overpowering them, and then they leap ahead of you to keep you constantly engaged and pushing forward."

Even with that scaling in place, however, I'm sure savvy buildcrafters will find ways to blow Dragon Age: The Veilguard wide open with ridiculous setups capable of flattening anything the adventure throws at them. From hack-and-slash titles like Diablo 4 to shooters like Destiny 2 and Borderlands, I've seen it happen in pretty much every type of RPG out there, and I doubt that's going to stop any time soon. Since this is a single-player game and adjustments can always be made after launch, though, I think that's totally fine.

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Above all else, I'm just glad to hear that BioWare has focused on making putting together builds a rewarding process in this new Dragon Age. I tend to bounce off of RPGs that don't have satisfying ways to level your character and craft builds, so it's reassuring to hear the studio essentially invite players to try and get the better of their balancing efforts. I do also love a good challenge, though, and hope that The Veilguard's enemy scaling can keep up with the wild setups the community will inevitably come up with.

We'll find out soon enough, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard is scheduled to launch in just over a month on October 31, 2024 — a full decade after Dragon Age: Inquisition's own arrival in 2014. The Halloween release will bring the highly anticipated fantasy RPG to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, with preorders live now across all three platforms. Normally, they're $60-70, though some nice CDKeys deals (linked below) currently allow you to snag what could be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year for less.

What you need to know

• During a preview event for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, game director Corinne Busche was asked about the possibility for DLC and expansions. 
• Busche says that the team's focus right now is just on delivering the base game as a complete experience. 
• All three prior Dragon Age games received post-launch DLC. 
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is slated to launch on Oct. 31, 2024 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

If you're wondering whether or not BioWare's upcoming fantasy role-playing will expand past launch, the answer is currently unclear. 

My colleague Rebecca Spear recently played seven hours of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and she's been excited about everything she experienced. During the preview event, she asked game director Corinne Busche about whether or not Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be getting any DLC or expansions after it launches.

Busche replied, "Our focus right now is to make the best single-player RPG that's out there, so we're very focused on just making this featured content as complete as we can." 

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Every prior Dragon Age game received some DLC

While this answer doesn't really give us much to expect, it's still possible that we could see the game expand with paid DLC after launch.

DLC and expansions are a staple of the Dragon Age franchise, with Dragon Age: Origins receiving numerous smaller packs and a full-fledged expansion called Dragon Age: Origins Awakening. 

While they didn't get full expansions, Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition also received multiple DLC packs, which expanded the stories of the games with new questlines, including some pretty major story reveals.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is slated to launch on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2024. It's available across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5. If you're not sure which edition to grab, consult our Dragon Age: The Veilguard preorder guide.

There's a large dedicated Dragon Age fan base eagerly anticipating Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which will be released this Halloween. But if you aren't familiar with the series, that's no surprise. After all, developer BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts (EA) haven't released a new game for this franchise in 10 years — not since the release of Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014. I, myself, had heard the buzz about the series a decade or so ago, but I had never played a game until recently, thanks to attending a The Veilguard preview event. 

According to some veteran fans, The Veilguard is making some significant changes from previous entries, which is interesting considering it's a direct sequel to Inquisition. As someone new to Dragon Age who has spent roughly seven hours playing The Veilguard on PC and who has chatted with Game Director Corinne Busche and Producer Jen Cheverie, I can say I've enjoyed my time with this upcoming fantasy RPG and appreciate its direction. It's now one of the titles I'm most excited about playing this year as a new Dragon Age fan. 

So, let's dive in and discuss The Veilguard from the perspective of a new player. How approachable is the storyline, how does combat work, and what is the overall gameplay experience like?

An impressive character creator and gorgeous aesthetic

As with most high-fantasy RPGs, The Veilguard starts by having me create my character — a person known as "Rook" in-game. As part of this process, I choose my lineage (Elf, Qunari, Human, or Dwarf), appearance (more on that to come), class (rogue, warrior, or mage), and faction (Grey Wardens, Veil Jumpers, Shadow Dragons, Lords of Fortune, The Mourn Watch, or Antivan Crows). Most of these decisions affect how non-playable characters (NPCs) interact with me during my playthrough. 

For the start of the game, I chose to play as an Elf Warrior who was part of the Antivan Crow faction. I also played as a Qunari Mage and a Human Rogue at different points during the preview, so I'll talk about all of these experiences. But for now, let's talk about the art style and character creator.

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard Standard Edition: Walmart (Xbox) | Amazon (Xbox)| Best Buy (Xbox) | CDKeys (PC) | Steam (PC)
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard Deluxe Edition: Walmart (Xbox) | Amazon (Xbox) | Best Buy (Xbox) | CDKeys (PC) | Steam (PC)

Amazing textures and hair physics

After the first The Veilguard trailer was released, several people on the internet complained that the art style was too cartoony, but after viewing it for several hours, I can say I love it. There's definitely a stylized design to buildings and characters, but when viewed up close, textures and details are incredible. 

I don't know how many times I found myself admiring the light reflecting off of cobblestones or the slightly transparent skin that made each character respond to lighting in a realistic way. There was even one point where I sat mesmerized, watching the wind blow through the trees, shifting leaves and blades of grass in the light of a soft setting sun. It's a very beautiful game, and my appreciation for it started right from the beginning with the character creator.

Let me tell you, The Veilguard has one of the most impressive character creators I’ve ever seen. As Busche repeatedly emphasized, “Be who you want to be” was one of the team's main focuses, if not the main focus for the player experience. Nearly every aspect of my The Veilguard character can be customized, including hairstyles, facial features, gender, pronouns, vocal pitch, and more. Some of these options even included sliders for me to determine features such as the exact shape of my face, my body type, and more. I was even able to determine whether my character had cataracts and how pronounced they were, something I've never seen in a game.

As someone with curly hair, I’ve often found games are pretty scant on curly hairstyles, but this was not the case with The Veilguard. With a massive list of options, I quickly found a hairdo I wanted to use rather than just settling for one.

On top of that, The Veilguard's hair physics are so realistic that I ended up staring at my characters' heads in awe the entire time I used them. There's a softness and a weight to these strands that gives them depth and a natural sway as my character dashes around. Seriously, The Veilguard team must have made some kind of deal with the devil or invoked some true wizardry to pull this off.

Now, I've played several RPGs, and I don’t know how many times I’ve used a character creator menu in other games only to find that my creation looks completely different when in the light of actual gameplay, but that's not a problem with The Veilguard.

I was delighted to find that the game allows me to view my creation in four different lighting scenarios (basically mystical purple, bright and sunny, moody night, and foggy). Using these lighting previews, I realized that the hair color I had initially chosen looked more green than the blue I was going for, so I was able to adjust these tones before starting the game. You don't have to feel too worried about getting everything right in the character creator, though, since many of these options (possibly all) can be changed at the Mirror of Transformation at the Lighthouse, the game's main hub.

Just before starting the game, the menu let me choose from five difficulty levels: Storyteller, Keeper, Adventurer, Underdog, Nightmare, and Unbound (custom). A helpful chart on the right of the screen informed me of how challenging Incoming Damage, Enemy Aggression, Tactical Challenge, and Defend Timing would be, so I chose an experience that best suited what I was looking for. I started my preview experience on Adventurer, which is basically the "Normal" option.

Intriguing plot and companions

This section explains the main storyline of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which is revealed at the start of the game. If you don't want this information spoiled for you, skip this section. 

In preparation for the Veilguard preview, I downloaded Dragon Age: Inquisition onto my gaming handheld (the ROG Ally X) and played a few hours of it, but I didn't finish my playthrough. As such, I have a bit of an understanding of The Veilguard's returning characters and continuing story, but not fully. This worked out because I was curious to see how easy it was for new players to dive into The Veilguard without knowing the previous games' storylines.

Shortly after starting, I was introduced to returning characters Varric Tethras, Lace Harding, and Solas (Dread Wolf, Fen'Harel) before meeting a new character, Neve Gallus. Immediately, it's understood that the first three characters have some kind of history, and this adds to the complex tension between them. Solas (who is an ancient Elven Trickster god) is in the middle of a ritual that will apparently restore elven power and immortality in exchange for tearing the Veil and allowing demons and Darkspawn into the world. However, my party of The Veilguard companions interrupts him, which allows two of his powerful elven enemies to be loosed from an ancient prison. Now, these elven deities seek to destroy the world just like they sought to a long time ago.

The main plot of the story is then posited to you — You're tasked with defeating these two elven gods, putting a stop to Solas, defeating demons, and making things right in Thedas. Your group is now known as the titular Veilguard.

My limited understanding of Inquisition's plot partially prepared me for this direct sequel preview, but not entirely. The Veilguard throws you right into the plot with minimal preamble, which might be a little confusing for newcomers at first. Thankfully, the game's storytelling gives enough details to pique interest and explain the most crucial information pretty quickly without getting overly verbose or exposition-y. 

Exploring areas of the game also allowed me to see special cutscenes that further explained the story. However, you have to keep an eye out for these experiences because you can miss some if you aren't careful. It's just one of the ways that The Veilguard rewards exploration.

What about DLC and expansions?

When I asked if there are any DLC or post-launch expansions planned for The Veilguard, Busche replied, "Our focus right now is to make the best single-player RPG that's out there, so we're very focused on just making this featured content as complete as we can." It might not be the best news for some, but it's good to know that The Veilguard team isn't banking the game's success on post-launch content, which can sometimes feel cheap and unpolished. 

Impactful decisions that affect story, companion relationships, and romancing

Depending on the mission, I can have up to two companions in my party at a time. Each of my companions has their own background that I can learn more about if I take on their specific quests. This gives them more depth and can affect our bond when I choose to undertake these missions. What's more, companions have unique abilities that can help me traverse maps or solve puzzles. I can command them to use their abilities when in my party, but when they are not there, an item called the Lyrium Dagger allows me to use their abilities myself, which is really convenient.

As with previous Dragon Age games, The Veilguard's players are frequently given the chance to respond to NPCs and situations. Hovering over a response even makes an icon appear, letting me know what the overall intention behind my response will be — abrasive, sarcastic, caring, etc. The choices I make sometimes affect my companion's approval of me and can even have lasting repercussions on the story and character relationships. 

For instance, near the start of the game, I had to decide between having Neve or Lace accompany me on a dangerous endeavor that would put them in harm's way. I won't mention any specific consequences I experienced during my playthrough, but I can tell you that some of them are pretty game-changing. During tough decisions, I often upset some companions and put others at ease, which adds to the game's complexity. This fact already has me itching to play certain sections of the game again and make different choices.

Just like with other BioWare games like Mass Effect, players can also romance their companions. However, the team says it has made a concerted effort to make the romance system feel more natural, including making it so that some of the companions can even fall in love with each other. 

"Handling romances and romantic options. It's quite the challenge," said Busche, "and to be honest with y'all, I'm not sure there's a right answer on how to approach it. What we felt was best for this game was to make sure that you could romance the companions, but I want to be clear that it's not player sexual. These are fully fleshed-out characters that have their own romantic histories, preferences, backgrounds, and that doesn't change based on who you, the player character, are. They don't adapt their personalities to conform to the player, and that's fundamentally the difference." 

She further explained, "We're also mindful to have characters in the world of all orientations, so that we do get that really thoughtful representation again, where people can see themselves."

Since I was jumping between different character builds throughout my playthrough, I couldn't fully get a feel for the overall romance system other than being able to flirt now and then with different companions. However, the fact that some companions can form relationships with each other if you aren't involved makes me curious about how those relationships could affect the story.

Combat, gameplay, and performance

During the preview, I played The Veilguard on a PC that sported an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor and an RTX 4080 graphics card. These aren't the most powerful chips on the market, but they are pretty high-tier. That said, The Veilguard PC system requirements aren't super demanding, so you don't need this kind of rig to play. I didn't have an FPS counter running or anything, but The Veilguard ran beautifully, with smooth movement, no screen tearing, and hardly any pop-in. 

The only thing that felt strangely limited was jumping. Rook immediately scrambles up mantle-able rocks and objects if I move the character into them, but Rook can't jump very far. This might be by design, to force you to engage with puzzles a certain way, but it did feel odd at times. 

While playing, I alternated between using a keyboard and mouse and an Xbox Controller to get a feel for both of these control inputs. Both layouts felt intuitive and comfortable to use.

Gameplay that's hub-world based rather than open-world

Gamplay-wise, rather than being a fully open-world game, The Veilguard incorporates hub-based missions with players using magical elven mirrors known as Eluvians to start new quests. Busche explained that "it's hard to buck trends" [like open-world gaming] but that the team "really felt we could tell the best stories... The most curated moment-to-moment experience by really going back to a mission-based structure." As someone who really likes plot-focused games, I found this choice suited The Veilguard very well.

When I asked how big The Veilguard is, Busche responded, "the thing that I think we're most proud of, when we think of the breadth of the game, is just the sheer number of biomes and regions we're revisiting. We cover more of Thedas than we ever have before...there's going to be a lot there for people that really want to just immerse themselves in this world building."

In between quests, I found myself at The Lighthouse, a basecamp where I can talk to my companions and explore an abandoned facility. Historically, with Dragon Age, this basecamp area has been important for having conversations with your companions and strengthening your bonds. To help streamline this, The Veilguard lets me know if a companion has something to say by turning the lanterns on in front of their rooms. So, there will be no more wasted wandering around to see if a character wants to talk.

Classes, level cap, and combat mechanics

During the preview, I spent a few hours playing as a Warrior (roughly level 1-5), a Rogue (roughly level 6-8), and finally, a Mage (level 30+, if I recall correctly). While there are some similarities between these classes, they do play very differently in The Veilguard's action-based real-time combat. 

In my hands-on time, I discovered that each class feels good to play and offers unique attacks and satisfying controls. You, as a player, will need to determine which class feels right for your preferred playstyle. Warriors are tanky and go right up to enemies, knocking them down with their shields and slashing with their swords. Rogues offer a mixture of ranged and melee combat, which gives them flexibility in battle. Meanwhile, Mages are primarily ranged attackers that have low defense and powerful spells. How you choose to evolve your character's skill tree determines what kind of fighter your Rook becomes within these classes.

Unlike Inquisition, The Veilguard does not allow players to jump around and control all characters in their party like you can in Baldur's Gate 3. Instead, The Veilguard implements a new Ability Wheel (RB button on Xbox Controller, Tab on PC), which pauses the game and allows me, as the leader of my group, to dictate what kinds of attacks my companions unleash. This system provides a fun mixture of strategy and real-time combat that I haven't quite ever experienced in other RPGs. What's more, it helps me feel more connected to my specific character, which, in turn, keeps me more enveloped in the fantasy world of Thedas than hopping between characters does.

Strategy-wise, if I combine certain characters' attacks together, I can create combos that deal more damage than usual. The trick, then, is knowing when to use specific attacks and when to wait for different cooldowns to finish so I can unleash a similar combo again. All together, combat felt intuitive, very balanced, and satisfying. 

Unlike previous Dragon Age games that cap around level 30, The Veilguard developers have expanded the cap to level 50. Speaking of the challenges faced when increasing the level cap, Busche says it "took a concerted effort, some really insightful forethought in how we were going to handle the underlying damage calculations." She also explained that "enemies scale alongside you; there are moments where you feel like you're maybe overpowering them, and then they leap ahead of you to keep you constantly engaged and pushing forward.

"We want players to find emergent builds." Busche continued, "We want them to feel like they can outsmart us. Maybe not obliterate the game," she laughs, "so when we find those, we try and roll them in. But, my goodness, nothing would make me happier than somebody outsmarting our best tuners." Based on my own experience, The Veilguard team did an excellent job in this regard, allowing me to feel more powerful with plenty of combat options while still providing a challenge even after I upgraded gear, my character, and my companions. As with most RPGs, it is crucial that I acquire the right kind of gear and upgrade my character appropriately if I want to stay on top of things. 

So, is The Veilguard approachable for new players?

Based on my experience with The Veilguard, I think it will be relatively easy for new players to enjoy. You'll definitely have a better understanding of world lore and faction relationships if you've played previous Dragon Age games. However, The Veilguard's story opens in such a way that it quickly teaches you the most important aspects so you aren't lost; you can learn more along the way.

When I asked Busche and Cheverie if they had advice for people new to Dragon Age, they smiled and told me, "just jump in." They further said to start with The Veilguard and go back to previous titles from there. It's clear these long-time Dragon Age veterans really love this franchise as they explain that they're a little jealous of me and wish they could experience Dragon Age for the first time like I'm currently doing.

Since The Veilguard is offered on several different platforms, you'll be able to experience it the way you prefer, whether you're a returning veteran or a new player like me. Busche explained, "I passionately wanted to make sure not only that this is the best PC experience we could offer, but getting a lot of devices like Steam Deck" was important. This involved "making sure that the size of the UI elements, the Fidelity, and more were legible on this smaller device." Personally, knowing that The Veilguard is Steam Deck verified makes me want to play it on my Steam Deck or my ROG Ally. I can't wait to dive in when the game launches later this year.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard releases on PC (via Windows), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation on October 31, 2024. This game is also Steam Deck verified. It's an action-adventure RPG that's available in either a Standard Edition or Deluxe Edition. For more information, you can check out our The Veilguard preorder guide.

It's been a long time since the world first met the Grey Wardens. If you're looking to return to the origin, you'll want to shake some things up. 

Dragon Age, BioWare's epic fantasy role-playing game series, first began all the way back in 2009 with the launch of Dragon Age: Origins. With two more games and numerous DLC packs released in the following years, the franchise has only grown in renown, even with the massive gap that followed after the launch of 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition. 

With the fourth entry on the way, many players might want to do a series replay, or check out the original games for the first time. This is the perfect way to get ready for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Unfortunately, it's not exactly straightforward, at least if you want to start from the very beginning. 

Dragon Age: Origins hasn't aged well in many technical respects, and you need to do some work getting it working optimally on modern gaming hardware, including a few mods. Fortunately, this isn't too difficult to do. I've put together a list of the best mods for Dragon Age: Origins and its Awakening expansion, many of which I've personally used recently.

Do I need mods for Dragon Age: Origins?

If you want to play Dragon Age: Origins on PC, you'll want to do so with mods. Unfortunately, the simple fact is that developer BioWare did not leave this game in great condition when the team stopped providing patches. This isn't a case of missing one or two bugs, rather, there are sizeable portions of the game that simply don't work as intended, with large chunks of combat-related mechanics that aren't functional, alongside dozens of quests and voice lines that don't work properly or at all. 

Truthfully, it's downright jarring, and while I remembered having a lot of bugs to contend with back when I first played Dragon Age: Origins — and I played it a dozen times more in the following couple of years — I was absolutely shocked at just how much of this legendary game was left in a state of disrepair when I revisited it earlier in 2024. Unless you want an experience that is frustrating and difficult to go through — as well as being extremely likely to just flat-out crash on modern hardware — then you need to play Dragon Age: Origins with mods. 

Best Dragon Age: Origins mods

For the best mods, I'm focusing on the must-haves, the things you absolutely need in order to have a good experience. 

4GB Patch

This is one of (if not the) most important files to grab. Because Dragon Age: Origins was never properly patched to support 64-bit architecture, it still pulls from only 2GB of virtual memory while playing, meaning that accumulating more than a few hours playtime on a save will start to cause consistent crashes. This patch from NTCore will allow the game to use 4GB of memory, significantly reducing the chance of any crashes or errors, especially if you mod it heavily. 

Seriously, I can't overstate how important this is. It's an incredibly useful tool for any older application that was never officially patched, and I seriously recommend keeping a copy handy, just in case. 

Awakening Runes Fixes

Dragon Age: Origins' Awakening expansion greatly expands the number of runes that players can use, while also introducing armor-based runes, letting you increase your defensive and offensive capabilities through Runecrafting. Unfortunately, several Runes are flagged incorrectly, meaning they can't be used as intended. This mod from Schwinni has several options, allowing you to restore the intended functionality or completely change it up, based on your preferences.

Awakening Silverite Mines Bugfix

Another mod focused on the Awakening expansion. When entering the Silverite Mines during the main quest, you'll temporarily lose your equipment. You are then supposed to get it back, but there is a chance said gear is completely unrecoverable. This is a particularly nasty bug, but fortunately, a mod from TerraEx fixes this issue up.

Dain's Fixes

Arguably the second most important mod in this list, Dain's Fixes from dainbramage fixes a very, very, very, very long list of errors and bugs in Dragon Age: Origins' gameplay mechanics. I'm not going to even try and list them all, but boosted healing effects, Chain Lightning using the Spellpower stat, Oghren having Dwarven resistance, and so many other things in the game simply don't work the way they are supposed to, and this mod fixes that up.

An important note is that this mod also includes a number of nice quality-of-life changes in addition to the bug fixes. These include auto-looting and disabling some obnoxious noises, but if you don't want any of these to be included, you can easily remove them and keep the portions you want. 

DLC Transfer to Awakening Patch

This fix is for a nasty issue plaguing the Awakening expansion. By default, most of the DLC-specific items from Dragon Age: Origins' various DLC packs don't transfer properly into Dragon Age: Origins Awakening. This includes some extremely powerful gear that's still quite good in the expansion, including the sword Starfang and the Helm of Honnleath. Fortunately, this mod from silencer711 takes care of this issue. Be sure to download the version that matches your game, depending on if you bought it from Steam, EA, or GOG.

Joining Ritual Fix

Here we find a patch for yet another frustrating bug in Dragon Age: Origins Awakening (are you noticing a pattern here?). It keeps players from correctly administering the Joining Ritual and allowing a companion to become a Grey Warden. While this bug can be easily avoided depending on the route in which you tackle a couple of quests, it's better to just fix it up, and this mod from i9h will do just that.

Qwinn's Ultimate DAO Fixpack

Another extremely important mod, this pack is focused on issues occurring in the main game's quests. Qwinn's Ultimate Fixpack from Qwinn restores missing party banter, bugged dialogue, and several possible quest resolutions that were intended but were either cut due to time constraints or are simply glitched. 

Sigrun's Roguish Past and Law and Order fix

Two quests in Dragon Age: Origins Awakening, titled Sigrun's Roguish Past and Law and Order, are infamously bugged, with the former being unavailable if you've started the latter. This fix from Trylane223 takes care of the issue.

Vigilance Fix

Vigilance is a powerful sword you can craft in Dragon Age: Origins Awakening, but wouldn't you know it, if you also have the Warden's Keep DLC for the base game installed, then you won't get to see what it looks like, as the model is overridden with that of Starfang. This mod from ragnathul fixes the problem.

Additional Dragon Age: Origins mods

This list includes some popular mods that aren't absolutely required, but may be a good idea for one reason or another. Some of them are just nice to have to improve the game's graphics and textures, while others change up extremely controversial sections of gameplay. 

Extra Dog Slot

Dog is a wonderful companion, a loyal Mabari hound who brings a smile to your face whenever you see him, and he's got some truly hilarious interactions with the other members of your party. Dog's performance in combat isn't great however, and taking him means losing a slot that could hold another party member with useful skills and tactical prowess. With this mod from Dheuster, you can simply bring Dog along as a summon, meaning you get all the benefits and none of the drawbacks.

It's something developer BioWare seems to have realized was a really good idea, considering it launched Dragon Age 2 in 2011 and implemented Dog as a summon just like in this mod.

Forced Deathblows

Dragon Age: Origins features some really cool animations where warriors and rogues using melee weapons will shield bash and decapitate regular-sized enemies, while jumping up and killing larger foes like Ogres in extravagant fashion. These animations are often considered to be underused, so if you want to trigger them more frequently, use this mod from MachDelta. There's a couple of different options, but I recommend using the "Deathblow Lieutenants Plus" override file, as it's the best balance.

Skip the Fade

Dragon Age: Origins features a lengthy excursion into the Fade, the dreaming land of spirits and demons. This section of the game is infamous for being universally reviled, with confusing layouts and gameplay that isn't similar to anything else in the game, but not in a fun way. It's so rough that this mod from hdhd is one of the most-downloaded in Dragon Age history, letting you skip most of the sequence while still getting the rewards, codex entries, and companion-specific scenes.

Theta HD

Dragon Age: Origins wasn't exactly stunning to look at when it first released, but there are a few glaring low-resolution textures that stick out like sore Darkspawn when you see them. Download this mod from Rennn to clean them up.

How to mod Dragon Age: Origins

If you've never modded a game before, it can be a little scary and daunting to try and get started. Fortunately, once you actually begin, it's not difficult at all.

Modding can vary, with different steps you need to take across different games, and in some cases developers will even allow creators to monetize mods with in-game systems, like you'll see with Bethesda Game Studios titles such as Skyrim and Starfield. 

For Dragon Age: Origins, none of that applies. Most of the mods you'll install from this list work the exact same way, so you can follow the instructions below. The only two major exceptions are the aforementioned 4GB patch and the DLC transfer tool, so I've given those their own sections further down. 

How to mod Dragon Age: Origins by extracting files

For most of the mods you'll be using, you need to extract the necessary files into the override folder. Before you begin, I recommend making a copy of the mods you'll be using and placing them in an easily-accessible folder. After that, just follow these steps:

1. Right-click the mod file and select Extract. 
2. You'll be prompted to select a location to extract the files to. Navigate to the Override folder for Dragon Age. 
3. This file path will differ depending on where you've installed the game, but should follow a similar pattern to this example: C:\Users\ExampleName\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override
4. Repeat the process for every other mod with the same process, as needed. 

How to fix the DLC transfer from Dragon Age: Origins to Awakening

The DLC transfer fix tool for Dragon Age: Origins Awakening is a batch file, which allows it to be a comprehensive fix while being a small overall file size. Simply verify you've downloaded the correct version (the GOG file if you bought the game from GOG, and so on) and double-click the file, then grant permission.

How to apply the 4GB patch to Dragon Age: Origins

This 4GB patch is easy to use. Just double-click the file and then select the executable for the game you're patching. In this case, you're looking for daorigins.exe. After that, it's done!

Dragon Age is one of those franchises that I'd never played but often heard people talking about. My own sister-in-law loves these fantasy RPGs, especially Origins, and has encouraged me to play these games for years. Unfortunately, when Dragon Age: Inquisition released in 2014, I was in college and didn't have the time or money to play it. A decade later, I realized that I'd missed out on one of the best fantasy RPGs ever made. 

With Dragon Age: The Veilguard set to release this year on October 31, 2024, I decided to start playing Inquisition for the first time. If you've read my other articles, you know that I'm a big gaming handheld enthusiast, so naturally, I wanted to play on my ROG Ally. This is how I found that Inquisition is a perfect title for gaming handhelds, as long as you get over an initial hiccup — enabling controller support. 

How to enable controller support in Dragon Age: Inquisition

In order to play Inquisition on handhelds with controller support, you'll need to:

1. Run Dragon Age: Inquisition. 
2. From the main menu, press the hamburger button to get past the start screen. 
3. Use your finger to tap on Options. 
4. Tap on Controls.
5. Tap the arrow next to where it says "Use Gamepad or Mouse/Keyboard" until it says "Gamepad." 
6. Apply changes, and you'll be good to play.

10 years old, but still a fantastic game on handhelds

It's always a gamble when playing older games on Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ROG Ally. Obviously, developers had no way of planning for these convenient devices back then. So, when I booted up Dragon Age: Inquisition on my ROG Ally X via Xbox Game Pass, I wasn't too surprised to find that the game didn't respond to my button presses. At first, I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to play it on my Ally, but thankfully, I was only a quick touchscreen fix away from enabling controller support and diving into this classic.

While writing this, I've put over 20 hours into this game so far, and I've really enjoyed it. The graphics are admittedly a bit outdated, with in-game controller icons looking large and clunky. The "chosen one" storyline also feels a little old at times. But overall, the game looks great on handhelds. While character facial expressions look a little stiff, they look more natural than Starfield's uncanny NPCs do. I haven't had to deal with stuttering or choppy gameplay either, just fun gameplay and an interesting plot.

So, what exactly is Dragon Age gameplay like? I wrote previously that Inquisition feels like a Baldur's Gate 3 precursor in some ways, which is not surprising, given both are fantasy RPGs backed by a Tolkien-esque boatload of lore. I started off by choosing my race (Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Qunari) and class (mage, rogue, or warrior) before customizing what my character (male or female) looked like. Then, I was thrown right into an exciting plot. 

Within a few minutes, it's established that something terrible has happened, resulting in my character obtaining unique powers that can close openings in the Veil. These catastrophic tears that resemble swirling green lights in the sky are dangerous because they allow violent demons and spirits into the world. Before long, I was part of a ragtag team bent on saving the world. This group is known as the titular Inquisition.

As with most good RPGs, I, as the player, get to determine how my character responds in various situations. Depending on the dialogue I choose and the decisions I make, the NPCs grow more fond of me or disapprove of me. If I take the time to complete optional side quests, I can attempt to convince additional characters to join my team or even attempt to woo them. This already has me excited about the game's replay value.

Rather than being a fully open-world game, Inquisition offers a hub-world with open-world sections. My party members and I have a home base from which we take on missions. I fast-travel to different maps that have relatively large areas to traverse in a more open-world manner. Each map is filled with side quests, resources, enemies, items, and interesting locations to keep me busy.

Unlike Baldur's Gate 3, Inquisition's combat is action-based rather than turn-based. I personally love turn-based strategy games, but if you don't like them, this action RPG will feel more approachable for you. When I encounter enemies, my party members (up to three companions) take the initiative and attack on their own while I control my character. I can also use the D-Pad to jump to any other members of my party while my main character goes on autopilot. 

There's a satisfying level of growth built into the game, too. As I earn more experience, my party members level up, and I get to determine which abilities to unlock in their skill trees. Being a mage, I've built my main character to have a mix of ranged and AoE (area of effect) attacks, which allows me to take down enemies from afar with satisfying visual effects and elemental pairings. Of course, keeping an eye out for better weapons, armor, and accessories also improves my battle performance. It's a fun game that has completely sucked me in.

One thing is for certain. I'm more excited for The Veilguard now that I've been playing Inquisition. I now see why so many people rave about Dragon Age. If you're looking for a fun game to play, I highly recommend jumping into Inquisition on whatever platform you prefer. Not only does this game provide a fun adventure, but it will also get you ready for when the sequel releases this October. 

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As dark gods rise and terror falls over Thedas, it's up to a handful of heroes to save the world. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is on the way, bringing players the first new game in the Dragon Age series since the launch of Dragon Age: Inquisition a decade ago. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is launching across consoles and Windows PC, meaning that if you're playing on the latter, it's time to consult the listed requirements and make sure you can run the game with no issues. I've rounded up all the information you need to know.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard PC requirements

Electronic Arts and BioWare haven't given many details on what players can expect from different hardware yet, but that should change soon. 

The Minimum requirements for the game should be considered the entry point, and you'll need to upgrade if you don't have at least this hardware:

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 970 or 1650 or 
• CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X (AGESA 1207 or newer)
• RAM: 16GB
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
• STORAGE: 100GB SSD

The Recommended requirements should provide a smoother experience, and you should be able to play at a meaningfully higher framerate and resolution with some settings turned up if you meet these specs:

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700XT
• CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (AGESA 1207 or newer)
• RAM: 16GB
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
• STORAGE: 100GB SSD

While it's not technically required, it's a good idea to make sure you've got an SSD (preferably an NVME SSD) in order to reduce loading times. While Dragon Age: The Veilguard can technically run on an HDD, many modern games now require much faster storage as a baseline in order to function properly. 

Electronic Arts has also confirmed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard does not require the EA App. Players also don't need to worry about maintaining an online connection. It's a single-player game and once you have it downloaded, you can go offline.

How to check your PC specs

If you didn't just build your computer, or it's been a few years since you bought it, it would be very understandable to have forgotten some of the specs. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to figure out what hardware you have installed in your Windows PC. Just follow these steps:

• Type dxdiag in your Windows taskbar. 
• Choose dxdiag to run the diagnostic tool. 
• The system tab will show you RAM information for your Windows PC. 
• The display tab has all the info you need on your graphics capabilities. 

If you don't meet the minimum requirements for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, carefully consider exactly what parts you'd need in order to play the game. If all you need is more RAM or a better GPU, that's pretty easy to install, power supply permitting. If you need a newer CPU, you should seriously considering building or buying a new rig.

Can Dragon Age: The Veilguard run on gaming handhelds?

Some players are choosing to eschew traditional gaming computers, embracing handheld devices that sacrifice power in exchange for the ability to take games on the go, such as popular options like Valve's Steam Deck. Even if you still use a dedicated rig, having a handheld option can be a nice supplement for your hobby. 

Because these gaming handhelds have set specifications that can't be upgraded (not counting storage), it's sometimes unclear as to whether or not you can play a game on these devices. Here's what I know about Dragon Age: The Veilguard on handheld gaming devices right now.

Will Dragon Age: The Veilguard run on Steam Deck?

Yes, Electronic Arts and BioWare confirmed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Steam Deck Certified, meaning you'll be able to play this game on the go with Valve's handheld. You'll likely need to turn some settings down and play at 30 FPS, as the Steam Deck doesn't have the same kind of hardware as a dedicated gaming desktop.

Will Dragon Age: The Veilguard run on ASUS ROG Ally?

Dragon Age: The Veilguard should not have any issues running on the ROG Ally. The Ally features beefier specs than the Steam Deck's hardware. Since Dragon Age: The Veilguard will run on Steam Deck, it follows that there shouldn't be any issues on the stronger system. That's even more true for anyone that grabs the more powerful (and more expensive) ASUS ROG Ally X.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is scheduled to launch on Oct. 31, 2024. If you're not sure which version of the game to grab, you can consult my Dragon Age: The Veilguard preorder guide.

Blighted gods arise, and only a handful of would-be heroes stand in their way. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is on the way, with developer BioWare bringing a new entry in the long-running Dragon Age franchise for the first time since 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition. With the Dread Wolf tampering in the veil and the world of Thedas yet again facing disaster, players will gather a special team to take down these new threats. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is now up for preorder, and there are a couple of different bonuses to consider, as well as different versions of the game that offer different benefits. I've put together what you need to know below.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Standard edition vs. Deluxe edition

There are two versions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard that players can buy: a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition. The Standard Edition is $70 on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 while being $60 on Windows PC (including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and EA App), and it includes just the game. 

Meanwhile, the Deluxe Edition packs some cosmetic extras for player character Rook and their companions Bellara, Davrin, Emmrich, Harding, Lucanis, Neve, and Taash. The Deluxe Edition is available for $90 on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 or $80 on Steam, giving players the following:

• 3 Rook armor sets (cosmetic only)
• 6 Rook weapons (cosmetic only)
• 7 Companion armor sets (cosmetic only)
• 7 Companion weapons (cosmetic only)

Both versions of the game are arriving across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 on Oct. 31, 2024.

It's worth noting that any EA Play subscribers get a 10% discount on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and other games published by Electronic Arts. EA Play is available as a standalone subscription on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, but it's also automatically bundled in with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no extra charge. 

This means that anyone subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate would get $7 off Dragon Age: The Veilguard's standard edition, with a $9 discount on the Deluxe Edition. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — Preorder bonuses

Both the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition of Dragon Age: The Veilguard are eligible for a preorder bonus. Anyone who preorders either version of the game will get the Blood Dragon Armor, a set of cosmetic armor that's available for Rook whether you're playing a Mage, Rogue, or Warrior. 

The Blood Dragon Armor is something of a franchise staple across many of BioWare's games, first appearing in Dragon Age: Origins as a bonus for buyers of the Collector's Edition and later the Ultimate Edition that is bundled in all DLC packs. The armor was then included in Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age 2, and Mass Effect 3, though it didn't make its way into Dragon Age: Inquisition or Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Is there a collector's edition for Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

While there isn't a collector's edition of Dragon Age: The Veilguard in the traditional sense, BioWare has crafted a box of collectibles that hardcore fans will want to grab. Titled Rook's Coffer, it's available for $150 exclusively through the BioWare Gear Store, and while it does not include a copy of the game, it does include the following:

• Light-up Lyrium Dagger
  • Around 22 in (55.88 cm) long
  • Mini-USB charging
  • On/off button
  • (Not a toy, decorative only)
• Rook's Card Deck
  • 52 cards featuring illustrations from Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• Enchanted Die
  • D12 die with pouch
• Glass Potion Flask
  • Around 4 in (10.16 cm) tall
  • (Not food safe, decorative only)
• Cloth map and Quiver
  • Map of Thedas, with quiver for storage
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard Companion Lithograph
  • 18 x 24 in (45.72 x 60.96 cm)

What you need to know

• Developer BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts shared that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is launching on Oct. 31, 2024. 
• This release date comes after prior confirmation that the game would be arriving at some point in Fall 2024. 
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is launching almost a decade after the prior game, Dragon Age: Inquisition. 
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be available across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

Get ready to crack the egg for Halloween. 

Developer BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts shared the release date for Dragon Age: The Veilguard on Thursday, with a new trailer confirming that the long-awaited follow-up to 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition is launching on Oct. 31, 2024, just as the recent leak indicated.

You can check out the release date trailer below, though be aware there are some (very light) spoilers for the game, per BioWare:

I previously had the chance to see about an hour of gameplay from Dragon Age: The Veilguard's opening during Summer Game Fest 2024. What BioWare showed at the time looked quite impressive, with a stunning character creator and a plot that's throwing players right into action, as player character Rook teams up with Varric and others to try and stop Solas.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is slated to launch across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (including Steam), and PlayStation 5.

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Analysis: Let's go

I am very excited to play Dragon Age: The Veilguard. As I've mentioned many times before, Dragon Age is a series that's extremely close to my heart, and I've replayed Origins more times that I can count. I'm actually in the middle of a series-wide replay right now in order to prep for The Veilguard.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is shifting the series more towards an action-oriented format, which has plenty of fans sceptical. Long-time Bioware fans have been desperately awaiting a return to form for the storied studio, after previous efforts like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda failed to achieve the heights generally expected of the studio. Veilguard will hopefully (hopefully) be a return to form. 

I still have some questions about what to expect, but I'm happy to finally return with a new adventure in the world of Thedas this year. We should have more details on the game as Gamescom 2024 kicks off next week, with Dragon Age: The Veilguard confirmed to be present. 

What you need to know

• Bioware plans to show a new Dragon Age: The Veilguard trailer today at 12 p.m EDT, revealing the release date of the upcoming fantasy RPG.
• Earlier this morning a trailer was leaked with the release date as October 31, but take this with a pinch of salt until we get confirmation from Bioware.
• UPDATE: The Dragon Age: The Veilguard release date is now official. 

Yesterday, we were blessed with news from Bioware that they were to reveal the release date of Dragon Age: The Veilguard today, in a new trailer penned to show at 12 p.m EDT. It looks like someone may have gone ahead of them, though, as waking up in the UK this morning, I was taken aback to see this new trailer being shared, which you can also see in the linked tweet below.

If the trailer is to be believed, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be released on Halloween, October 31.

The original leak offered a different trailer, but the release date was correct, at least. You can see that below. 

Original article continues: 

The trailer shown is only just over 20 seconds long, and appears to splice together scenes we've already seen from previous Dragon Age: The Veilguard trailers, but that's not unusual for a simple release date reveal. The community at large seem to think it's legitamate but we have yet to see official confirmation from Bioware, who are going ahead with an official stream today.

What time is the Dragon Age: The Veilguard release date announced and where can I see it?

The official trailer goes live today, August 15, at 9 a.m. PDT, 12 p.m. EDT and 5 p.m. BST. It will likely be a full new trailer and not the 20-second clip we got in this leak, which appears to be more of a TV ad. Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be the first installment in the Dragon Age franchise in 10 years, following Dragon Age: Inquisition. Bioware has also promised more reveals in the coming weeks leading up to launch, including a peek at high-level warrior combat, Companions week, and a Developer Q&A on Discord. 

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If this is the real release date, I'm overjoyed

I count Dragon Age in my top 5 franchises, and I, along with other eager fans, have been starved for a new installment for too long. Following the name change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the reveals at Summer Games Fest, I've had my doubts about the direction of the game, but I'm still absolutely seated to play it at launch. Especially after seeing my colleague Samuel Tolbert's coverage after he got to see an hour of Dragon Age: The Veilguard at Summer Games Fest 2024.

With the final quarter stacked with other games I want to play, like Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, I was concerned about where Dragon Age would fit in my rotation. October 31 is a perfect slot, though. I can fire up the game after a night of trick-or-treating with the kids, so I'll even have snacks to steal! 

Like many of you, I first played Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3) about a year ago when it first launched. I really didn't know what to expect from Larian Studio's game, aside from the fact that you could apparently have a romantic relationship with a druid (Halsin) while he was in bear form. Thankfully, I ended up playing the game on launch day and quickly fell in love with the sassy Astarion, blunt Lae'zel, and puppy-like Karlach during my first 80-hour playthrough. Not only that, I found myself thinking about the game and its characters long after I saw the credits roll. 

It's been a year since the game released (crazy, right?), and I love so many parts of it. However, it took me playing Dragon Age: Inquisition to put into words one of the things I love most about BG3. Namely, Larian Studio's Dungeons and Dragon's game provides a far more enthralling adventure than usual because it doesn't use one of the most cliche and overdone storytelling methods in fantasy RPGs. 

Nothing breaks immersion like the "chosen one" archetype

In preparation for the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I've been playing Inquisition on my ROG Ally X. In case you're unfamiliar, this is the previous game in the Dragon Age series that released a decade ago in 2014. Overall, I still recommend BioWare's older fantasy RPG — it even feels a lot like a BG3 precursor in some ways. However, I can't help rolling my eyes every few seconds with the game's whole "chosen one" storyline.

The whole "chosen one" archetype is a horribly overdone mechanism that instantly breaks a game's storytelling illusion. Why is that? Because it makes players feel like an outside entity rather than a normal part of the world. It also makes it painfully obvious that I'm not playing with real characters, but rather just NPCs tailored around making me feel special and powerful in an almost patronizing way. Regardless of what game you're playing, this archetype makes the other characters treat you oddly and puts distance between them and yourself. 

Now, you might be saying, BG3 makes you a special character. But the difference is that you are part of a group of infected individuals rather than being the only one with eye-worm powers. There's nothing more special about your unique character than any of the others in your party. It wasn't destiny that made you this way, just a crappy turn of events that you're learning to cope with alongside the others. 

Every BG3 origin companion has their own baggage, and you could play as any one of them without completely changing the feel of the game (aside from the blood-lusting Dark Urge). Karlach was enslaved and now needs to remove something that's killing her. Astarian wants to break free of his evil master. Lae'zel wants to prove herself to her people. While playing as these characters, the game gives you the freedom to choose whether you are the stereotypical hero, a villain, or something in-between. There's no destiny. No putting you on a pedestal simply for being the human element.

In effect, what this does is make you feel like you're more intimately part of a group because you're muddling through each new scenario just like your companions —without being more special than they are. Sure, the game relies on you making the ultimate decisions when played in single-player mode, but you can literally make many of these choices as any character in your party who you happen to be playing as at the time. That's one of the reasons why we build such strong relationships with Astarion, Shadowheart, Gale, Lae'zel, Karlach, and Will. It feels more like we are all in this together.

Larian made something truly special with Baldur's Gate 3, since it manages to make you feel like part of the world rather than an outside entity. This is obviously partially due to the game's expansive decision trees, but also because this D&D adventure makes you feel like part of a gang rather than an "other." I hope other single-player fantasy RPGs take note.

It's time to head back to Thedas. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is on its way, and if you need to prep or replay the older Dragon Age games to get ready on Windows PC, the perfect opportunity has presented itself. Right now, you can snag the entire Dragon Age trilogy for just $10 on Steam. That's Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition (as well as all DLC packs for all three games), which would usually cost you $100. That's a massive sale to take advantage of before it ends in a week!

A legendary trilogy showing its age

Dragon Age: Origins first launched in 2009 across Xbox 360, PC, and PS3. The setting is simple enough on the surface: In the dark fantasy world of Thedas, an ancient evil known as the Blight begins, bringing hordes of foul Darkspawn into the country of Ferelden. Players customize their character and join a legendary order of warriors known as the Grey Wardens, who fight the Darkspawn.

With a number of DLC packs and an expansion called Awakening in the following year, Dragon Age: Origins was a huge success for role-playing game developer BioWare, and it spawned two sequels, Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition, which launched in 2011 and 2024 respectively. 

Dragon Age 2 stars a human protagonist named Hawke, who flees the Blight's threat and arrives in the city of Kirkwall before being unwillingly drawn into a tangled web of plots. Dragon Age: Inquisition again stars a completely custom character, this time an individual wielding a mysterious power to close of rifts into the Veil from which demons are pouring out into the world.

All of the games (as well as the accompanying novels and comics) expanded the scope of the fantasy series with new characters, stories, and mysteries all around its world. From there, it's been a near-decade wait for the fourth entry in the franchise. 

While all three games are lauded as excellent RPGs (with increasing action-RPG elements as time has gone on) the games are showing their age, especially Dragon Age: Origins. Many things we take that are considered standard these days, like accessibility options or UI customization features, simply aren't included, and a large number of bugs essentially went unpatched, especially on the PC versions of all three games.

Fortunately, the modding community has solved many of these problems, and you can easily mod the games (especially Dragon Age: Origins) to overcome technical issues. I've personally begun playing Dragon Age: Origins again for the 20th time, and I'm modding it so I don't deal with any weird bugs or oddly cut content.

I've previously argued that BioWare should remaster these games, similar to the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which united all three chapters of Command Shepard's story in one nifty package with remastered visuals and even included a 120 FPS mode on Xbox Series X. There's been no sign of anything happening yet though, so unless something changes, this discount is easily the best way to grab the Dragon Age franchise on Windows PC. The deal is good through June 27, so hurry up!

If you're a console user, your options are a bit rougher, but Xbox players are in luck. All three Dragon Age games are playable on Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility, and they benefit from faster loading times while playing at 60 FPS thanks to being included in the Xbox FPS Boost program. If you have an Xbox Series X, you can grab physical copies, but no matter what, they're available to purchase digitally, as well as being included in EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

Catch up before Dragon Age: The Veilguard arrives

If you've never played any Dragon Age games before, this is the time to jump into the franchise. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is slated to arrive at some point in Fall 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5. It's been a long wait, but I was impressed with almost an hour of gameplay footage from Dragon Age: The Veilguard that I saw back when I was in L.A. for Summer Game Fest 2024. I've also begun tracking our list of companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, so catch up on who you want to befriend and romance.

In my preview, I wrote that "Overall, I'm very happy — and bluntly, more than a little relieved — with what I saw of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Combat looks snappy, the art direction is off the charts, and the dire stakes here immediately have me invested. "

What you need to know

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an action role-playing game created by Bioware.
• Bioware, makers of Mass Effect and other RPGs, have not made a Dragon Age game in over a decade.
• The director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Corinne Busche, says systems that use all your skill points to max a specialization aren't fun.
• To combat that, players will hit their specializations about halfway through, leaving the rest of the game to level and branch out.

The problem

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an action role-playing game developed by genre veterans Bioware, the makers of the massive RPG series Mass Effect. For the first time in a decade, Bioware is returning to the Dragon Age series, and in a big way. Veilguard is promising an all-new leveling system that will see the player peak toward the mid-game rather than the end.

As a player who relishes the art of crafting uniquely built characters in games like Elden Ring across multiple playthroughs, I often find myself a little bored during my character's progression. The anticipation of reaching its full potential can sometimes be marred by a lack of engaging gameplay or a seemingly endless grind. However, the upcoming Dragon Age game is set to empower players like myself by giving us the goods sooner rather than later.

The solution

In an interview with RPG Site, the director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Corinne Busche says she gets frustrated by games that take too long to get to the good stuff. Often, a similar title will require all of a player's skill points to reach the end-game specializations. This results in a player having nothing left once they reach that point.

Corinne says, "We have a level cap of 50. One of my frustrations with some other games that have similar skill tree systems is that getting up into the specialization might take up absolutely all of your skill points, and then you have nothing else. We're the exact opposite. You get into your specialization about mid-game, and then you can really branch out."

What if you find yourself in a situation you don't like? No need to worry about that, either, because the developers have got your back. "Every level you get a skill point; there are other side activities to get skill points. We are very player-friendly; you can refund your last, refund the whole thing…", mentions Corinne.

I revel in games that offer players the freedom to explore different options, especially in the early stages, before the 'best build' guides flood the internet. The ability to switch skills and abilities at will is a game-changer during those opening chapters. I'm one of those players who constantly fine-tunes and optimizes their character, and this level of customization is a source of pure joy for me. It's a journey of discovery and experimentation that I hope pays off for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Does this news help instill more hope into Dragon Age: The Veilguard for you? I've seen some mixed reactions online. Even here at Windows Central, we're debating with Senior Editor Samuel Tolbert, feeling confident, and Jez Corden is still unconvinced. Let us know below or on social media! I'll make sure to follow along.

A role-playing game from BioWare means having a range of companions to choose from.

The team's latest game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, is no exception, providing a number companions that players can choose from when fighting out in the field or looking for conversation when at home base. I've assembled this list of Dragon Age: The Veilguard companions for easy reference, and I'll be adding to it as we learn more about each character.

As a reminder, if you're looking to catch up on the series before playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard, all three prior Dragon Age games are currently playable on Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PC. All three titles are also included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard — List of companions

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has seven companions included at launch. For comparison's sake, Dragon Age: Origins had 10 companions (one being DLC), with the Awakening expansion featuring six companions. Dragon Age 2 has nine companions (with one DLC character included), as does Dragon Age: Inquisition. 

In a series first, all seven companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are romanceable regardless of the player character's gender, meaning no one will be locked off from forming a relationship with anyone that they can take out in the field. Technically, Dragon Age 2 also utilized this system at launch, but the romance options were limited to just four of the party members.

Bellara

Voice Actor: Jee Young Han

This Dalish Elf and "Veil Jumper" is making her debut in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. While she's skilled with a bow, her abilities are augmented by her magic arm.

Davrin

Voice Actor: Ika Amadi

Another Dalish Elf introduced in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Davrin is a Grey Warden, fighting with a sword-and-shield and accompanied by a griffin. This creature is the symbol of the Grey Wardens and was previously believed to be extinct.

Emmrich Volkarin

Voice Actor: Unknown

First introduced in The Flame Eternal short story, Emmrich Volkarin is a Human necromancer hailing from Nevarra, who summons skeletal minions to swarm enemies on the battlefield.

Lace Harding

Voice Actor: Ali Hillis

Returning from Dragon Age: Inquisition (where she was the Inquisitor's lead scout), Lace Harding is a dwarf archer. Her skills with a bow and preexisting kinship with Varric Tethras means she's one of the earliest companions you'll encounter in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Lucanis Dellamorte

Voice Actor: Unknown

First introduced in the 2020 novel Tevinter Knights, Lucanis Dellamorte is a human member of the infamous Antivan Crows. Lucanis specializes in taking down mages, hence his grim title.

Neve

Voice Actor: Unknown

Also introduced in Tevinter Knights, Neve Gallus is a human mage native to Tevinter. A member of the Shadow Dragons organization, she lost her right leg and now uses a dwarf-made prosthetic, but it hardly hinders her affinity for ice magic.

Taash

Voice Actor: Unknown

Making her debut in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Taash is a Quanari dragon hunter, and a member of the Lords of Fortune. She's vicious in combat thanks to her twin axes.

The Age of Dragons is continuing

With a wide roster of choices, players will be able to continue the long-standing tradition of becoming friends with their favorite characters, choosing to romance someone, and ignoring anyone that they don't end up caring for. 

During Summer Game Fest 2024, I got to see an hour of footage from Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and I'm not only relieved, but I'm pretty excited to see where this story is going in the long-awaited continuation of BioWare's fantasy series. Solas is up to continued shenanigans as he seeks to reshape the world as it once was, but it definitely seems like there's a lot more going on than meets the eye.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is currently slated to launch at some point in Fall 2024 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

As the ritual continues, energy crackles through the air, ripping open wounds in the Veil that bleed streams of Demons, pouring out across the night sky above Minrathous, the capital city of the Tevinter Imperium. As the demons trade magical blasts with the Tevinter Imperium's floating fortresses, a band of companions race against time in the streets below, desperate to stop an ancient god from completing his work.

So opens the story of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the next big game from developer BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts, and the fourth mainline entry in the Dragon Age series.

At a recent preview event during Summer Game Fest 2024, I had the opportunity to check out almost an hour of footage from Dragon Age: The Veilguard's prologue being played live by the developers, with a look at character creation, dialogue choices, combat, and everything else that has gone into the next act of this fantasy franchise. It's a preview that leaves me with a number of questions, but manages to assuage my biggest fears after the long, long wait we've had for this game. Here's my big takeaways.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard places characters front and center

After some narration from series mainstay Varric Tethras that's designed to catch new players up to speed — if you're one of said new players, former companion Solas is actually an ancient elven god known as the Dread Wolf who wants to tear down the Veil and burn the world to start over again — we're introduced to the new character creation system for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. 

While the limited time for the demonstration means I don't get to see every option fiddled with, it's immediately clear that BioWare has massively improved customization options compared to prior games. After selecting your race (Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Quanari) body sliders allow you to fine-tune weight, height, and other details. Special mention must be given to how to how good the hair looks, with an actual variety and what appears to be a diverse range of options. For all BioWare's strengths, the hair options in prior games have been downright abysmal, so it's good to see this sorely-needed improvement. 

Character creation continues by choosing a class, where players will select one of the Dragon Age staples: Warrior, Mage, or Rogue, with specializations also returning that allow you to hone a particular focus as your character levels up. For this preview, the developers opted to craft a rogue. We're still not done yet, as you'll also get to pick your background faction (including the Grey Wardens!), a bit of flavor that will be referenced by other characters throughout the game and changes context for some conversations.

Following character creation, Varric's narration continues, revealing that he's put together a group to stop Solas, having recruited our character and a handful of others so far. Shifting the game, we see the aforementioned events unfold as Solas' ritual begins, tearing open the sky above Minrathous in a bid to reshape Thedas. It's a gorgeous display, one that seems more fitting for a late-game act, and that's by design.

"We wanted the start to feel like the end of a different game," explains creative director John Epler, noting that much as it's almost ten years since the last game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, a similar amount of time has passed in-universe.

We get our first look at combat when Shades (a type of lesser demon) stalk the streets and block off the narrow passageways. Combat is quick and brutal at this stage, with the Rogue using fast knife strikes and powerful arrow shots to quickly carve through the Shades. As stronger mixes of enemies begin to appear, abilities are used to turn the tide. Despite the action-heavy focus, positioning is absolutely key, and using careful timing to hit multiple foes at once can be the difference between victory and defeat.

As the crew continues to progress, destroying obstacles and squeezing through narrow cracks through the undercity of Minrathous, it's clear BioWare's artists have been unleashed. Long mentioned but never actually seen — at least in the games, do go watch Dragon Age: Absolution on Netflix — Minrathous is frankly stunning, a dark and oppressive city of night with all the wonder of a heavenly spectacle and the subtlety of an iron gauntlet.  It's a fitting debut that helps set the dark tone this game seems to be going for. 

I'm aware that many people were put off by the recent companion-focused trailer, and some of those choices were certainly odd, but unless something changes dramatically later on, I'm not worried about Dragon Age: The Veilguard not being serious enough. 

Not to be left out, the characters are also animated extremely well, and the performance capture sells the fantasy of every conversation. In-between fights, Varric and the other characters, including your fully-voiced protagonist, discuss events that are unfolding and different things that have led up to this moment. Epler notes for the preview that with how much time has passed since prior games, the team wanted to carefully throw in some reminders without it feeling like ham-fisted exposition. It's a tough balance to get right, but at least in the opening hour it always felt appropriate.

As fights continue to ramp up, the developers show off the latest version of the Tactical Wheel, which allows you to pause the game and issue orders to both your character and your companions to use abilities. Combined with some other changes like the limit to having two companions with you in the field and the lack of an option to directly control them, it's extremely reminiscent of Mass Effect 2 and 3.

I won't spoil how the prologue concludes, but it's safe to say BioWare is hitting the gas immediately, with a call to action and urgency that (again) brings Mass Effect 2 to mind. The Dread Wolf's ambitions have already been laid bare, but I strongly suspect there's more going on, and Epler cryptically hints that not everything will be as it first seems.

The gameplay section finishes as the team catches up with Solas, fighting a mighty Pride demon — which Varric astutely cracks was probably drawn by the Dread Wolf's ego — a fight that necessitates dodging and chaining everything shown so far in order to bring it down. After felling the raw magical monstrosity, Solas awaits...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a lot more to come

Overall, I'm very happy — and bluntly, more than a little relieved — with what I saw of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Combat looks snappy, the art direction is off the charts, and the dire stakes here immediately have me invested. 

I do still have some questions, especially in light of the many, many changes this game (and BioWare) has gone through over the last few years. Exactly what does the scale look like? Will there be more open areas to explore, or is it mostly linear like the prologue? Is there a balance to be found between "narrow hallways" and "The Hinterlands?" I don't know, but I'm looking forward to learning the answers.

Most of all, I'm ready to the break that egg.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is slated to launch across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 at some point in Fall 2024.

What you need to know

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the fourth mainline entry in the Dragon Age series, with development spanning a decade across multiple reworks, reboots, and shake-ups at developer BioWare.
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard was first teased at the Game Awards 2018, with the former title of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf being announced in June 2022. 
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard was shown off during the Xbox Games Showcase, giving a new look at some of the characters players will encounter across this adventure in Thedas, as well as confirming a Fall 2024 release window.

BioWare's epic fantasy series is FINALLY back. 

BioWare and Electronic Arts shared a new look at the next Dragon Age during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, revealing some new insight into what this adventure in the land of Thedas will bring with the game's cast of characters. The game has also gotten a name change, and is no longer titled Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, but instead is known as Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

You can look forward to seeing more of the game soon, as BioWare will be presenting 15 minutes of gameplay footage on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in Fall 2024.

How long has Dragon Age: The Veilguard been in development?

As the fourth game in the Dragon Age series, The Veilguard has been a long time coming, with Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition launching in 2009, 2011, and 2014 respectively, with each title receiving a bevy of DLC content. 

Following the launch of Inquisition, a fourth Dragon Age game was in development for years at BioWare, but the game wasn't always called Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and it wasn't always the same game. As directors departed, scope changed, and the team suffered layoffs, numerous ideas were worked on over time. At one point, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was primarily centered around a heist in Tevinter, an idea that survived in the form of the Dragon Age: Absolution animated series on Netflix.

Despite teasers and concept art being released for years, this game didn't even have a title until June 2022, when BioWare revealed the incredibly on-the-nose choice of Dreadwolf. Late arrival spoilers for Dragon Age: Inquisition, but the former title of Dreadwolf refers to player companion Solas, who is in reality the Elven god Fen'Harel, also known as the Dread Wolf.

If you're trying to find a way to play the Dragon Age games, whether to get a refresher on events or for the first time ever, all three Dragon Age games are playable on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, with all three games included in EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

Analysis: Please, let this be good

It's been so long since we had a new Dragon Age game. We're going on a decade now, and it's only marginally less than that if you count the Trespasser DLC. It's hard to overstate how much is riding on this game for BioWare and Electronic Arts as a whole. I'm extremely excited, but this has to deliver. I'm looking forward to learning more soon.

In the meantime, if you want to prepare for the arrival of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I highly recommend watching the Dragon Age: Absolution series on Netflix. It's fun and stylish, and it made me remember how much I love this world and setting that I grew up with. Dragon Age (and BioWare as a whole) were incredibly influential for me when I was barely a teen, and I'm ready to see it return in strength. 

What you need to know

• The next Dragon Age game from developer BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts is now titled Dragon Age: The Veilguard. 
• This fourth game in the series was previously titled Dragon Age: Dreadwolf in June 2022, which itself came after a 2018 teaser indicating that "The Dread Wolf is rising."
• BioWare has a full reveal for Dragon Age: The Veilguard planned over the summer, starting with a video showing the game on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. PT. 

The long-awaited fourth chapter in BioWare's fantasy franchise has undergone a name change. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the new name for the next Dragon Age game, having previously been titled Dragon Age: Dreadwolf back in June 2022. This title followed a 2018 teaser at the Game Awards, which showed the art above and cryptically teased that "The Dread Wolf is rising."

"Each of the seven unique characters that make up your companions will have deep and compelling storylines where the decisions you make will impact your relationships with them – as well as their lives," writes BioWare in an official blog post. "You’ll unite this team of unforgettable heroes as you take on a terrifying new threat unleashed on the world. Naturally, the Dread Wolf still has an important part in this tale, but you and your companions – not your enemies – are the heart of this new experience."

Like every prior game in the series — Dragon Age: Origins in 2009, Dragon Age 2 in 2011, and Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014 — this game will introduce a new lead character, a hero like The Warden, Hawke, or the Inquisitor. 

BioWare will be fully revealing Dragon Age: The Veilguard over the course of the summer, showing players what characters and dangers await in this latest romp across Thedas. There'll be a video on Tuesday, June 11th at 8:00am PT showing off 15 minutes of the game. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

If you're looking to easily play the prior Dragon Age games to refresh your memory or catch up, all three Dragon Age games are playable on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, and all three are included in EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

Analysis: That's certainly a choice

I obviously don't have much context right now, given that we still need to see the game in action in order learn about the plot, world, characters, and more. It's certainly possible that this name ends up making more sense later on, but for now, this is a puzzling choice. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf spoke to the hardcore fans, as it seemed like a direct promise to follow up on the teases hidden through Dragon Age: Inquisition, which all culminated in the big reveal at the end of the Trespasser DLC.

Even so, this is just a name. At the end of the day, the actual quality of the game is what matters the most, and that's what I'm looking forward to learning about extremely soon.

What you need to know

• Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the next game coming from role-playing game developer BioWare.
• BioWare shared a teaser video for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, showing a glimpse at the different locations in the game's world like Rivain and Antiva. 
• Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is now slated to get a "full reveal" at some point in Summer 2024.

We've got another (very tiny) peak at the next game in the Dragon Age franchise. 

Developer BioWare shared a teaser video on Monday, going through glimpses of  different regions that seem to be explorable in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, including the never-before-seen Antiva, Rivain, and the Anderfels. You can watch the teaser below:

After showing these locations, the teaser on the note that a full reveal is coming for the game at some point in Summer 2024.

What else do we know about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf?

We don't really know much about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Despite the game being in development for close to a decade now — it's been rebooted and changed leadership multiple times — we still haven't really seen much, outside of a handful of cinematic trailers that teased locations and characters but didn't really say anything meaningful. 

We know that Solas, the Dreadwolf, is being set up as the main antagonist. We also know that the dwarf Varric seems to be returning, and that the game features a completely new RPG skill system.

All of this comes after BioWare laid off 50 developers earlier this year, many of whom were working on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. The company is also embroiled in legal action, with quality assurance testers who were laid off picketing the studio on N7 day. BioWare is also working on the next Mass Effect game, releasing a teaser on N7 day.

Analysis: Holiday 2024, here we come?

Assuming for a moment that BioWare and Electronic Arts intend to launch Dragon Age: Dreadwolf at some point in Holiday 2024 following the summertime reveal, it'll have been 10 years since the release of Dragon Age: Inquisition. I'm hopeful for the best, because I love the Dragon Age franchise — Dragon Age: Origins is one of my most replayed games of all time — but there's a lot here to contend with that's working against the game and team. 

In the meantime, if you're looking for a new Dragon Age story to watch, I recommend checking out Dragon Age: Absolution on Netflix. It's a one-season animated show that is based on some of the original ideas for the fourth game, well before it was rebooted. 

What you need to know

• BioWare is laying off 50 employees as part of a transition to become a more "agile" studio. 
• The studio will be trying to find places for as many employees as possible at other Electronic Arts studios. 
• The next Mass Effect game is still in pre-production. 

We've learned some unfortunate news surrounding the future of BioWare. 

BioWare shared on Wednesday that the studio is evolving in order to become a "more agile and more focused studio" in the in gaming industry. As part of that process, 50 employees at BioWare are being laid off. BioWare and Electronic Arts are trying to find places for the affected employees at other Electronic Arts studios, but there are no guarantees how this will play out.

BioWare also shared that the next Mass Effect game is still in pre-production, while development on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is continuing so that it can be a game "worthy of the Dragon Age name."

This news comes months after Electronic Arts laid off hundreds of employees as part of a broader restructuring. According to a report from VentureBeat, this move also came as Electronic Arts has decided to not to continue working with unionized quality assurance employees at Keywords.

Keywords provides support for numerous games across multiple disciplines, with employees who had been helping on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf for some time unionizing back in June 2022. 

Analysis: Layoffs suck, and Mass Effect is still far off

These layoffs are disappointing to learn about. I can certainly understand a studio deciding to become more agile and flexible, something that's often not possible as a larger team, but the fact is making that decision has a human cost.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's release timing will probably not be affected by this move all too much, but the fact the next Mass Effect is still in pre-production is something of an eyebrow raiser to me. I don't expect we'll see that game before 2026 now, and I wouldn't rule out it launching even further off than that. 

BioWare is one of the most well-known RPG developers in the business, being behind the legendary fantasy Dragon Age and sci-fi Mass Effect series of video games. For many years these two franchises have attracted millions of fans, and now you have the opportunity to own the complete collection of games for less than $20 on Steam.

The BioWare Mega Collection is the ultimate bundle for BioWare fans (or gamers looking for a reason to become a BioWare fan), as it includes every mainline Dragon Age and Mass Effect game in its greatest form, including:

• Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition
• Dragon Age II Ultimate Edition
• Dragon Age Inquisition Game of the Year Edition
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition
• Mass Effect Andromeda Deluxe Edition

That's a total of seven incredible games and all of their DLC and expansions for one ridiculously low price. Mass Effect Legendary Edition by itself is often as expensive as this entire collection put together, actually, as it's a recent release that includes remastered versions of the original Mass Effect trilogy. This is an unbeatable deal for some of the very best PC games of all time, as it's massively discounted.

Is it nearly $200, which is the cost of everything included here? Absolutely not. Is it even $100, near where the bundle is normally discounted? Still not close. No, the BioWare Mega Collection is currently on sale for just $19.73, a few cents under a crisp $20 bill. For that price, you'll have plenty left over to invest in a new SSD for your PC, which might be necessary to store all these brand-new games.

If you need to add some fresh cash to your Steam Wallet, you can find gift cards below, or deals on Mass Effect and Dragon Age games for other platforms.

What you need to know

• BioWare published a new blog with information about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's RPG progression and skill tree system development. 
• Previous Dragon Age games have all featured experimental and unique skill tree systems and the same will be the case for Dreadwolf. 
• The game is expected to release by sometime in 2024 or later.

Today, BioWare published a community update via its blog that explains how the Dragon Age: Dreadwolf design team comes up with its skill tree systems, refines them, and then implements them. This video game series has always offered unique and experimental RPG progression systems from one game to the next and according to the post, the same will be true for Dreadwolf. 

As stated in the blog, Dreadwolf's design team understands the importance of skill trees and the custom player progression they provide. "A key belief on the team is that when a player invests a skill point, it should have a clear, tangible effect on the game, such as an ability or impactful perk." But the designers also understand that there's a delicate balance between providing plenty of options and overwhelming the player. 

As Dreadwolf UX Designer, Bruno Porrio states, "it was very important to us that the fantasy of playing a certain class and the customization options would come across clearly and at a glance without overwhelming the player. It was key to our team to take something that is usually complex and make it accessible and simple to read." But in order for the design team to make sure that their systems work as intended a lot of work and refinement must be put in.

To start things off, the System Designers come up with what they want the skill tree and progression systems to feel like. They also point out aspects that they do not want the systems to have. Once a clear idea is put together, it's time to start building. This involves System Designers creating a framework with input from UX Designers. As System Designer, Luke Barrett anecdotally shares, he built an early prototype for these progression systems in Excel since, as he notes, "Designers aren't programmers!"

Once the overall concept has been established, it's time for the UX Designers to come at the feature with a "player-experience perspective" in order to determine any issues, create mockups, and gather feedback. This part of the process takes "multiple rounds of iteration and validation" until the team feels good about the final design. 

After that long process, it's up to the Technical UX Designers to "help bridge the gap between the UX designers, programmers, and artists as UI (user interface)," as Technical Designer Kelsey Wicentowich explains. But the process is far from over at this point. Wicentowich goes on to state that the tweaking process doesn't stop once a functioning feature is put into the game. "It's at this point that we can truly start to evaluate how it feels and how it reads to a player... Designs change and iteration continues until we find the right balance between the designer's vision and the player experience."

Developing video games is a long process that takes a lot of creative thinking, trial, error, and refinement to perfect. It's always interesting to get insights into how a particular game is coming along. Since Dragon Age is known for its unique progression systems and skill trees it's satisfying to hear that the people at BioWare are working so hard to make something amazing.

The BioWare blog post ended by stating, "from features like the Detailed Stats page that cater to RPG enthusiasts to hand-crafted locations you’ll come to explore and more, design is a topic we could talk about endlessly." It's good to see that the designers are so invested in their creations and hopefully bodes well for the final product. More information is bound to be shared in the future as we draw closer to the game's release and we'll be here to report on it. 

More about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf

Dreadwolf was initially announced in 2020 and is the continuation of the Dragon Age Series. The Dreadwolf title refers to Solas the Dread Wolf who was the main antagonist from Dragon Age 4. Little is officially known about the story, but we do know that it takes place after the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition and centers around a brand-new hero. 

BioWares' General Manager Gary McKay, revealed a while ago that Dreadwolf has completed its Alpha milestone and is playable from beginning to end. However, there is plenty of work still to be done to this game before it is ready to launch. No official release date has been revealed yet, but it likely won't be until 2024 or later.

What you need to know

• BioWare revealed that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has hit its Alpha milestone, meaning the developers can play through the game from beginning to end. 
• Development is now shifting to polishing different elements, examining how the story flows, and getting feedback from the Community Council on the game as a whole. 
• BioWare is also currently working on the next Mass Effect game, though like Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, it has no release window.

The next big BioWare game isn't here yet, but the team is sharing an update on just how it's coming along, even if exact details remain vague. 

BioWare general manager Gary McKay shared on Wednesday that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has reached the team's Alpha milestone, meaning that the developers working on the game can play through the entire game starting at the very beginning.

Now, it's important to remember that different game development studios have different standards for referencing exactly what an "Alpha" is and what it means for a game to be playable from beginning to end. With that in mind, it's still a big step no matter what kind of game is being developed.

Now that this milestone has been achieved, McKay notes that BioWare will be working on polishing different aspects of the game, as well as making sure that everything comes together as a whole, as well as soliciting feedback from the Community Council. 

Different teams under Electronic Arts have been using a Community Council of carefully selected fans and people passionate about a particular franchise, in order to check the tone of a game that's being developed. Motive Studio frequently consulted with a similar Community Council in the development of the Dead Space remake. 

Outside of the upcoming game, Dragon Age fans can also currently look forward to Dragon Age: Absolution, an animated series that's slated to launch on Netflix in December 2022. In addition to Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, BioWare is currently working on the next Mass Effect game, though there's no release window at this time.

What you need to know

• Dragon Age is a series of fantasy role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts.
• The last mainline game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, was released in 2014. 
• BioWare first teased the next Dragon Age game at The Game Awards 2018. 
• BioWare has shared that the next Dragon Age game is titled Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.

While Electronic Art's role-playing development studio BioWare first revealed the next Dragon Age game years ago, we've finally got an official name. 

BioWare shared on Thursday that the official name for Dragon Age 4 is Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Naturally, this is a reference to THE Dread Wolf, a powerful Elven god. In Dragon Age: Inquisition's Trespasser expansion, we learned that player companion Solas is in fact the Dread Wolf.

The next Dragon Age game has been in development for years, having first been revealed at The Game Awards 2018, with a teaser that promised the Dread Wolf was rising. A teaser trailer at The Game Awards 2020 also hinted at Solas' ongoing meddling in the affairs of Thedas. Given the newly-unveiled subtitle for the game, the wolf's presence is certainly going to be a guiding force in this next game.

BioWare also shared that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf won't be releasing in 2022, which is in line with prior reports indicating that the game was targeting 2023 exclusively on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5. The game's development has shifted over time, as it was reportedly once more of a multiplayer game but has since been changed into a strictly single-player title. 

This is in line with the development of other big Electronic Arts games like the Dead Space remake and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which are also being developed exclusively on current-generation hardware.

What you need to know

• The next Dragon Age game is currently being developed by BioWare.
• According to VentureBeat, this game will be exclusive to current-generation consoles and PC.
• This means there won't be any Xbox One or PS4 versions available.

The next Dragon Age game is still a ways off but a new report indicates what platforms players will be enjoying it on. According to VentureBeat, the next Dragon Age is set to launch on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC and PS5, with no planned Xbox One or PS4 versions.

BioWare's history likely plays a roll in this decision, as former executive producer Mark Darrah openly stated on Twitter that Dragon Age: Inquisition should've been developed only for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, admitting that the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game held back the overall design.

Another upcoming Electronic Arts title, the Dead Space remake in development at Motive Studios, is also current-generation exclusive, indicating that more and more games from the EA Worldwide Studios family will only be available on the latest gaming machines.

BioWare is also currently working on the next Mass Effect game, though this title is almost certainly even farther out. A remaster compilation of the first three Mass Effect games titled Mass Effect: Definitive Edition launched earlier in 2021, with publisher Electronic Arts noting that sales were "above expecations."

The next Dragon Age game is also reportedly a single-player adventure, dropping multiplayer elements that were at one point planned. The game also seems to be set in the Tevinter Imperium and possibly Antiva.

If you haven't played the prior Dragon Age games, they're all included in EA Play, a subscription service that is also bundled into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. BioWare hasn't remastered the Dragon Age games yet, but we'll see what happens in the future.

I'm really excited for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. BioWare's iconic sci-fi trilogy being gathered together in one package, taking advantage of the hardware in the newest systems (including a 120 FPS mode on Xbox Series X), and complete with all of the DLC? It's the kind of thing fans have dreamed of for years. The Mass Effect games are technically all playable on PC but the first game, in particular, is an infamously poor port. Backward compatibilty is a welcome option on Xbox but it doesn't help PS5 players, nor do the Xbox 360 versions of the game really hold up that well.

All together, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is promising a complete story for multiple playthroughs where I fool myself into thinking I'll make different decisions than the last time. It's also set to complete the best Xbox games available catalog. With the Mass Effect trilogy seeing this kind of love and care, I'd like to see BioWare's other big role-playing franchise get the same kind of attention.

Why Dragon Age needs a remaster

I love the Dragon Age games. Even Dragon Age 2, for all its faults, has the classic BioWare banter and character building I find key to the studio's legacy. In years past, I've replayed Dragon Age: Origins more times than I can count. So it brings me absolutely no joy to admit a simple fact: Dragon Age games don't hold up well.

The combat in Dragon Age: Origins is clunky at best on a modern PC. The game is riddled with bugs that require numerous mods and fan patches, especially the otherwise-great Awakening expansion. A remaster is the perfect excuse to make the game more enjoyable for long-time fans and intrigued newcomers alike. I can't count the number of friends I have who listen to me speak highly of the story and characters in Origins, only to bounce off of it when they try it and find out how it looks and, more importantly, plays in the modern age.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition compiles all three games with almost of the DLC, but BioWare has been very upfront about most of the work going into the very first game. The character creator has been expanded, numerous glitches were fixed, visuals were improved, and the art direction across different planets is closer to the original concept art thanks to improvements made in the engine. These kinds of valuable lessons could and should be applied to Dragon Age: Origins.

Meanwhile, the more action-focused and almost anime-at-times Dragon Age 2 is more playable, though there are still some problems to fix. It introduces a major new issue, however: It doesn't look like it's in the same series as Dragon Age: Origins. For that matter, the problem continues with Dragon Age: Inquisition, which again changes the visual direction well beyond simple technological improvements. The simple fact is, the visual styles of Dragon Age games aren't even remotely consistent with each other. All three mainline games look wildly different!

Source: Electronic Arts

Based on the tiny snippets and teasers we've seen so far, I assume that the next Dragon Age game will be similar in artistic tone and visual style to Dragon Age: Inquisition. If that's so, there's even more of a case to be made for bringing the former games in line with where the series is right now and is headed in the future.

A remaster doesn't just provide the opportunity to fix bigs and and tweak controls but to unify the three original Dragon Age games as a complete package, with visuals that look like the games all belong in the same franchise. While carrying decisions over to change the state of the world isn't quite as meaningful in the Dragon Age games as it is in the Mass Effect trilogy, since the lead characters change and former important players are usually recuded to smaller roles, it's still important for new players ahead of the next game. That's only going to happen if the games can easily be accessed in some kind of remaster.

I'm going to have a lot of fun revisiting the Mass Effect games very soon. I hope that sometime in the future, I'll be saying the same about Dragon Age.

Learn more secrets and tips for Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

• Mass Effect 3's ending revisited
• The ultimate Mako showdown
• Best and worst decisions you can make
• Can these aliens be pets?
• Rare scenes you probably missed
• What the Mass Effect Legendary Edition enhances
• What can the next Mass Effect learn from the remaster?
• Why we'll miss the multiplayer
• Now it's Dragon Age's turn

What you need to know

• Anthem Next was a planned overhaul of Anthem's many gameplay mechanics, such as the loot system.
• Anthem Next has been canceled according to an update shared by BioWare.
• The studio is now shifting to focus specifically on the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect games.

Anthem Next, the planned overhaul for Anthem that would see the game's systems evolve in response to player feedback, has been canceled. This news comes straight from BioWare, who shared a blog post from studio director Christian Dailey on why the decision was being made.

Dailey explains that the resources needed to properly develop Anthem Next, combined with BioWare shifting into work-from-home mode because of the global pandemic, a difficult call had to be made.

"I know this will be disappointing to the community of Anthem players who have been excited to see the improvements we've been working on. It's also disappointing for the team who were doing brilliant work," Dailey writes. "And for me personally, Anthem is what brought me to BioWare, and the last two years have been some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career."

Daily also states that moving forward, BioWare is completely pivoting to "laser focus" on the next Dragon Age and the next Mass Effect games.

More immediately, BioWare has Mass Effect: Legendary Edition coming on May 14, 2021, bringing a remaster of the first three Mass Effect games to modern platforms, with a whole host of differences.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is on its way. No longer unofficially referred to as Dragon Age 4, the next big BioWare role-playing game has a title. We've known that a new Dragon game was on its way since witnessing the end of Inquisition. The dialog left nothing to the imagination, and the story was clearly not over. Now, slowly but steadily, we're learning more about our next trip to Thedas.

As one of the teasers indicates, it's safe to say you'll have some questions. We're gathering the answers. Here's everything you need to know about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf — What is it?

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the fourth mainline entry in the Dragon Age series of fantasy role-playing video games. Its predecessors consist of Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, which were released in 2009, 2011, and 2014, respectively. Based on BioWare's pedigree for making some of the best RPGs around, expectations are high.

Unlike the Mass Effect franchise, which followed the same protagonist for its first three games, Dragon Age tends to shift between different leads with each game, though different characters and locations do show up across multiple titles.

At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2020 with Geoff Keighley, BioWare shared a sizzle reel of Dragon Age 4 concept art. Giving us an opening look into the world we will see. And in the newest artbook that's been released, it seems confirmed that Dragon Age 4 will take us into Tevinter.

For years, this latest entry was simply known as the next Dragon Age game, or sometimes Dragon Age 4. In June 2022, BioWare shared that Dragon Age 4 is officially titled Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. 

Additionally, BioWare is currently working on a Dragon Age animated series. Titled Dragon Age: Absolution, the first season is slated to launch on Netflix in December 2022.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf — Trailers

So far, we've seen a couple of teaser trailers for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, as BioWare was teasing certain things even before the game's name was confirmed. The first teaser trailer was shared at The Game Awards 2018 with #TheDreadWolfRises. An ominous greeting said, "So, you found me at last. I suspect you have questions." Yes, we do. We really do.

While not a true trailer, BioWare shared some concept art in 2020:

Two years later after the first teaser, another teaser trailer was shared at the Game Awards 2020. This trailer shared more but still kept quite a bit shrouded in mystery.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf — Release date

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf does not currently have a release date or release window. When BioWare revealed that the official name for the game, the studio also confirmed it wouldn't release in 2022. So, we won't see the game for at least another year. 

Based on information gleaned from Electronic Arts' financial results, April 2023 is the earliest possible release window and realistically, it's further off than that. Still, it's somewhat understandable given that the development of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has been heavily impacted by various factors.

Covid affected game development, much as it has everything else, in 2020. In July, we heard from former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah that work was still being completed on Dragon Age 4, just from a safe distance at home.

On top of that, the game has changed shape more than once. While Dragon Age: Dreadwolf reportedly originally included a heavy multiplayer focus, the game has been retooled to focus on being a single-player Dragon Age adventure. 

This change reportedly came about after the success of Respawn Entertainment's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which has seen over 20 million players. A sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, is currently slated to launch in 2023. Another upcoming single-player game from EA is the Dead Space remake, which is scheduled to launch on Jan. 27, 2023.

It's coming, but it's definitely taking a long time, far longer than any prior BioWare-developed game, even outside of the Dragon Age series. BioWare is also working on the next Mass Effect game, but this title is almost certainly even further out, with sources telling Windows Central it's as far out as 2025.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf — The story so far

Warning: This section contains spoilers from the second and third installments of Dragon Age. If you plan on playing Dragon Age and you don't want spoilers, skip past this section

Playing Dragon Age 2, we traveled into the Deep Road with Verric and his brother Bartrand on a mission to recover the Dwarven treasures. It was on this treasure hunt that we stumbled upon a Thaig overflowing with red lyrium. Locked in the center of this Thaig of lyrium is a pedestal, and sat upon it, an idol. The same idol is shown in the 2018 teaser trailer.

Throughout the game, we learn of the power held in red lyrium. Bartrand becomes corrupted by the idol. And in Act 2, when we have to enter Bartrand's home and confront him, he tells us how he "hears a song" sung by the red lyrium idol. Bartrand has committed unspeakable crimes against his servants, attempting to grow red lyrium from their bodies. To further frustrate an already horrible situation, he no longer has the idol. Bartrand sold the idol to Meredith, the Knight Commander of Kirkwall. The idol's corruption has continued to fill the city of Kirkwall as Meredith turns her fight against the mages and magic. Meredith takes this battle to an extreme and the city of Kirkwall is all but destroyed.

Dragon Age taught us the story of the Dread Wolf. The Dread Wolf moniker refers to Fen'Harel, a mischievous trickster god, much like we view Loki. He is the Elven god of betrayal. We pick up bits and pieces of information about him throughout the game, but our companion left out an important aspect of his life; he is the Dread Wolf.

Enjoy this little reminder of our conversation with Solas before he departs:

Lyrium remains a prominent aspect in Inquisition and with the re-emergence of this idol, what corruption is yet to come in Dragon Age 4?

What could be true about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf

Theories are flowing about the idol's meaning in the teaser trailer. As we see it, the idol sits in between a large wolf with three eyes and an elf's outstretched hand. Could the Dread Wolf have come into possession of the idol; its eyes matching the red of the lyrium? The is no surprise when a loving fanbase evaluates every part of a trailer. This is some of what the community is expecting.

The end of Trespasser was what hooked many of us to the next Dragon Age game. Solas' attempts to save the Elves ended with the destruction of their world. Despite these failings, as we said goodbye to Solas, he spoke with hope. A wish for the restoration of the Elves, "I will save the Elven people, even if it means this world must die."

Solas plans to save the Elves at any cost. This isn't exactly good news for our hero in Dragon Age 4. Are we off to save the world one more time ... or are we going to help Solas resurrect the Elven world?

What is the setting of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf?

Solas had said the Qunari are looking to Tevinter. This along with the DLC ending in an image of a dagger stabbed into a map at the heart of the Tevinter Imperium, has some fans expecting Dragon Age 4 will be set in the lands of blood-magic and immorality.

Several Dragon Age writers worked in collaboration on a set of short stories back in March 2020. The title of this collection is Tevinter Nights. And now with the new art book also being based in Tevinter, it's all but verbally confirmed.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf — Platforms

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf hasn't officially been confirmed for any particular platform. With that said, reports indicate that BioWare is making it a current-generation exclusive title, meaning it'll be available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and PS5, but not older systems.

What you need to know

• The next Dragon Age game does not have an official title or release window.
• The Tevinter Imperium has been heavily hinted at as the setting for the next game.
• A book from BioWare not only confirms this setting but also hints that Antiva City will be visited.

The next Dragon Age game still doesn't have a release window but we're learning more and more about where it is set. Fans have long expected that we'd be visiting the Tevinter Imperium in BioWare's next fantasy title but it looks like even more locations could be present.

Confirmation of this setting is given in the BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development book, as spotted by Eurogamer. So, we've learned that the next Dragon Age is officially set in the Tevinter Imperium. While this part doesn't come as a surprise — Tevinter has been widely reported and hinted at as the next setting — the book also includes concept art for Antiva City, capital of Antiva and home of the infamous Antivan Crows assassins.

A recent trailer at the Game Awards 2020 showed some of the environments we can expect to see, as well as the infamous Solas. Some concept art was also shown at EA Play 2020. The Dread Wolf is rising. Back in December 2020, Mark Darrah and Casey Hudson left BioWare. Christian Dailey has stepped in as the new executive producer on Dragon Age, while the creative director remains Matthew Goldman.

In addition to Dragon Age, BioWare is also working on the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition remaster collection, as well as a new Mass Effect game entirely. Both the next Dragon Age and the next Mass Effect will almost certainly be playable on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PS5.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah both have a long history at BioWare.
• Having formerly left BioWare before returning and becoming studio head, Hudson is now leaving.
• Darrah, executive producer on the Dragon Age franchise, is also leaving.
• Electronic Arts is now looking for a new head of studio for BioWare, while a new Dragon Age producer has already been chosen.

Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah, GM of BioWare and executive producer of Dragon Age games, respectively, are leaving BioWare. This news comes from a new blog post that also confirms the studio's existing projects are continuing, including the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition remaster, Dragon Age 4 and a new Mass Effect game.

Samantha Ryan will be overseeing BioWare for now until a new studio head is selected, while Christian Dailey, formerly of Blizzard Entertainment, is taking the role of executive producer on the next Dragon Age game currently in development, on which Matthew Goldman remains creative director. Mike Gamble is leading the team working on the recently-revealed new Mass Effect game.

Hudson worked at BioWare on games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect until 2014, when he joined Microsoft Studios. He then rejoined BioWare in 2017 as the new studio head. Darrah, another longtime veteran, worked on the Baldur's Gate franchise before eventually becoming executive producer on the entire Dragon Age series.

It'll be interesting to see what projects both Hudson and Darrah work on next. Several former members of BioWare, including James Ohlen and Drew Karpyshyn, have begun a new studio under Wizards of the Coast called Archetype Entertainment. This team is now working on an untitled multiplatform science-fiction role-playing game.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• A new Dragon Age game is in development.
• We don't know much about it at this time.
• Mark Darrah, Executive Producer at BioWare, recently confirmed that work on the game is continuing.
• BioWare is working from home, which means work is a bit slower than it might otherwise have been.

If for some reason you were concerned that work on the next Dragon Age game had stopped due to the ongoing pandemic, you don't need to worry anymore. Mark Darrah, Exectutive Producer recently shared on Twitter that work was continuing, though he also noted that it's slowed down due to work from home.

The last Dragon Age game released was Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014, with several story DLC packs released throughout 2015. A teaser for a new Dragon Age game was shown at the 2018 Game Awards. No name was given, just #TheDreadWolfRises.

For a look at perhaps a single new image that's possibly from the next Dragon Age game, check out the ending of the EA Play Live 2020 showcase:

In addition to working on this new fantasy role-playing game, BioWare is attempting to revamp Anthem and is reportedly working on a next-generation Mass Effect game. We'll be sure to provide more updates when we learn more about each of these projects.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Playground Games is working on a new Fable game.
• The studio recently hired a number of developers including EA's Ian Mitchell.
• Head of Recruitment Nick Duncombe said Mitchell was working on a role-playing game.
• You can purchase Xbox Game Pass Ultimate through the Microsoft Store for $1.

Updated June 26, 2019: According to Ian Mitchell's LinkedIn profile, he's worked on games like Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Star Wars Battlefront II, and an unannounced title which EA hasn't discussed as of yet. Since he's now a Senior Producer at Playground Games which is rumored to be working on Fable IV, the move makes perfect sense. EA hasn't released a compelling open-world game in years since Dragon Age: Inquisition or Mass Effect: Andromeda, so it's great to see that Mitchell's expertise will serve Playground well. He worked on those titles and they're exactly the kind of game Playground is making.

It's no secret that Playground Games, a recent Xbox Game Studios acquisition, is working on a new Fable game. The team is rapidly hiring developers for the project, and it looks like Playground is roping in some high-profile people to fill key positions. Today, Head of Recruitment Nick Duncombe said that EA's Ian Mitchell was part of the team. He said, "Joining the role-playing game team we have Ian Mitchell as a Senior Producer from EA."

It'll be interesting to see how Mitchell's expertise benefits the upcoming role-playing game. Hopefully, it'll be an interesting experience along the lines of Horizon Zero Dawn from Sony.

Many of the past Fable titles are available through Xbox Game Pass. Experiences like Fable Anniversary have been upgraded for Xbox One X, so they look crisp on modern displays. There's a promotion going on through the Microsoft Store which lets you upgrade to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – which includes Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold – for $1. Amazon is also selling a three-month subscription for $20.

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Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

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