Dragon Age: The Veilguard had quite a tumultuous journey during its development, taking nearly ten years to finally hit the shelves. While it received strong praise from critics, its launch didn’t quite meet the high expectations set by Electronic Arts. Despite 1.5 million players diving into the game within just two months, EA acknowledged that it struggled to expand beyond its dedicated fan base. In a recent earnings call, the company emphasized the need to adapt to evolving player interests, prompting BioWare to embark on a restructuring phase.
Interestingly, instead of doubling down on post-launch downloadable content, BioWare seems to be shifting its focus to their next big project. This could be a strategic move that ultimately benefits the Dragon Age series. By bypassing additional content for The Veilguard, the studio might just speed up the release of the next chapter, especially with their renewed focus on Mass Effect.
One major upside to not pursuing DLC for The Veilguard is that players receive a complete, immersive experience from the get-go. Past games relied heavily on post-launch expansions to wrap up storylines. For instance, Dragon Age: Origins came with multiple DLC packs and a full-fledged expansion, Awakening. Dragon Age 2 introduced fresh characters and storyline elements post-release, while Dragon Age: Inquisition’s true ending came with Trespasser, a major expansion wrapping up the main arc.
This strategy often left players feeling that pivotal story content required additional purchases. Characters like Shale in Origins and Sebastian in Dragon Age 2 were tied to DLC, which made them feel somewhat detached from the core game experience. In contrast, The Veilguard delivers its full story upfront, and though some might have wished for extra content, this decision ensures that players have access to the entire narrative from day one.
With BioWare turning its attention to Mass Effect, some fans are worried Dragon Age might be shelved indefinitely. However, this refocus could potentially bolster the franchise in the long run. The studio has faced multiple layoffs and restructuring efforts, highlighting a need for stability. By honing in on Mass Effect, BioWare might reclaim its stature as a leading RPG developer before returning to Dragon Age.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard may have fallen short of all expectations, but it clearly surpasses Mass Effect: Andromeda in many respects. It offers a visually polished experience with improved cutscenes and gameplay. Unlike Andromeda, which needed several patches to iron out technical glitches, The Veilguard launched in a much more stable condition. BioWare appears to have learned from past mistakes, and these lessons could lead to a smoother development and launch for the next Mass Effect.
The absence of DLC for The Veilguard might also reflect BioWare’s shifting priorities in game development. Instead of dedicating resources to post-launch content, they can now concentrate on their next major project. If Dragon Age makes a comeback, it could do so with a clearer vision and a more streamlined development process.
Should BioWare find stability with Mass Effect, the studio might expand once again, allowing Dragon Age to return stronger than ever. The long gap between Inquisition and The Veilguard was partly due to frequent changes in direction. By avoiding such turmoil, the next Dragon Age installment might hit the market much sooner than fans anticipate.
