Dragon Age: The Veilguard Preview - 5 Things to Look Forward To
A decade after the release of Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare is finally on the cusp of launching the fourth installment in the Dragon Age RPG series. Dragon Age: The Veilguard (previously titled Dragon Age: Dreadwolf) has been generating a ton of excitement among gamers, especially as updates have steadily rolled out in the last few months. Today we’re giving you a preview of the highly anticipated Dragon Age 4, including some of the key details that have gotten fans hyped for the game’s arrival.
When Is the Dragon Age 4 Release Date?
Fans have been asking this for a long time and thankfully, recent updates have given us a confirmed Dragon Age: The Veilguard release date. The game is launching on October 31, 2024, which falls within the previously speculated fall 2024 window. It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The October release was revealed in a nearly three-minute trailer posted in August 2024. The stunning trailer offered a more substantial glimpse into Veilguard’s world, characters, and gameplay compared to earlier teasers. It showcased some exquisite fantasy environments and introduced the game’s companions more organically, providing snippets of how players will interact with them in the game.
5 Things to Get Excited About in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The anticipation as Veilguard’s launch draws near is palpable and well-founded. Here are five compelling reasons why The Veilguard is a must-play for every Dragon Age fan.
1. A Return to Mission-Based Gameplay
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s mission-based system marks a departure from the open-world format of Dragon Age: Inquisition and a significant return to the series’ roots. This shift is a direct response to criticisms of Inquisition, whose expansive environments often lacked meaningful content and were filled with repetitive fetch quests, leading to a bloated experience that detracted from the game’s narrative depth. Veilguard’s creative leads have promised a more curated and engaging experience where each mission is rich in narrative and character development. There will still be plenty of opportunities for exploration, but with meaningful side content that enhances the overall experience, not fetch or grind quests that will only wear players down.
Each Dragon Age game has offered a unique approach to combat, and The Veilguard is no different. Iterating on previous installments’ combat systems, Dragon Age 4 is more action-oriented, with real-time combat that includes dodging, parrying, and building up meters for special abilities. Players can choose from Warrior, Mage, and Rogue classes. Every class has three specializations you can further customize via their skill trees. For gamers who enjoy fast-paced action, The Veilguard’s combat will feel dynamic and engaging. However, the game still caters to fans of previous titles’ slower, more tactical combat systems. Players can pause the game during combat to strategize, activate abilities using an ability wheel, and give instructions to your two companions. (That’s right, Veilguard has also reduced party sizes to three.)
2. A Much-Improved Character Creator
The Veilguard gives us a new hero in Rook. As in previous Dragon Age games, the protagonist’s character is highly customizable. The big difference is that this time around, the character creator is more robust than ever. You’ll be able to choose the character race (Human, Dwarf, Elf, or Qunari) and faction (Grey Wardens, Veil Jumpers, Lords of Fortune, Shadow Dragons, Mourn Watch, or Antivan Crows). You’ll get granular control over your hero’s appearance, from how broadly they’re built down to how big their nostrils are. And in response to fan criticism about the dark lighting of Inquisition’s character creator, Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s version will let you see your Rook in four different lightings, including daytime and nighttime. This way, you can be sure you’re thoroughly happy with your character’s appearance before hitting the save button.
3. A Diverse Cast of Companions
The seven companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are designed to be as complex as ever, each with their own rich backstories, factions, and motivations. There are six new companions who are either completely new characters or already mentioned in previous Dragon Age stories. They are:
- Davrin the Grey Warden: Known for being a bold and charismatic monster hunter
- Bellara the Veil Jumper: Obsessed with uncovering the secrets of ancient Elvhenan
- Taash the Dragon Hunter: Affiliated with the Lords of Fortune and known for her adventurous spirit
- Lucanis the Mage Killer: An expert assassin descended from the House of Crows
- Emmrich the Necromancer: A Nevarra’s Mourn Watch scholar with a skeletal assistant named Manfred
- Neve the Detective: A Shadow Dragons member whose cynical nature is tempered by a desire to create a better future
Dragon Age: Inquisition fans will already be familiar with Lace Harding the Scout, who returns with her trademark optimism and bravery… along with magical powers we previously didn’t know about.
4. New Locations to Explore in Thedas
This new chapter in the Dragon Age series takes place 10 years after the events of Inquisition. The Veilguard’s primary setting is the Tevinter Imperium, a civilization in Northern Thedas where mages hold significant power and influence. The Tevinter Imperium offers a mix of urban and natural settings that are both visually arresting and reflective of the region’s dark and intricate lore. With its rich blend of ancient traditions and modern magical practices, the region creates a fascinating backdrop for the game’s narrative. Players will have the opportunity to explore new parts of Thedas that have not been seen before. Key locations that have been confirmed include:
- Minrathous: The capital city of the Tevinter Imperium and a significant setting for the game. Minrathous is expected to be one of the largest and most detailed cities BioWare has ever created.
- Rivain: A region known for its diverse landscapes and cultures, Rivain is home to the Lords of Fortune faction, known for their daring exploits and treasure hunting.
- Arlathan Forest: Filled with elven ruins, this ancient and mystical area will be a focal point for the Veil Jumpers faction.
5. Depth That Creates a Personalized Experience
Player choices will shape the narrative and world of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, continuing the franchise’s tradition of emphasizing meaningful decision-making. In this installment, not only will players be able to craft Rook’s backstory based on his faction, but they can also determine what had happened in the previous game. This won’t be done via save files, but through the character creator.
The emphasis on player agency extends beyond mere world-building. It significantly impacts character relationships and the overall trajectory of the plot. Each companion in The Veilguard will react to the player’s decisions, adding layers of consequence to interactions and fostering a sense of accountability for the protagonist’s actions. This dynamic encourages players to think critically about their choices, as they can lead to varying outcomes in character arcs and the overarching narrative. With the game’s focus on a mission-based structure, the choices players make during quests will influence alliances, conflicts, and the fate of Thedas itself, ultimately setting the stage for an epic confrontation with Solas and the elvish gods.
As you eagerly count down to the launch of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, be sure to check out the growing array of official content. There’s a 20-minute gameplay reveal and a new 8-episode podcast, called Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance, featuring the Veilguard companions. And if you’re considering upgrading your gaming setup for the best Dragon Age 4 experience, take a look at the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 Gaming Laptop. With its powerful performance and robust storage, it’s an excellent match for immersing yourself in Rook’s adventures in the Tevinter Imperium.
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About Micah Sulit: Micah is a writer and editor with a focus on lifestyle topics like tech, wellness, and travel. She loves writing while sipping an iced mocha in a cafe, preferably one in a foreign city. She's based in Manila, Philippines.
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