Will Dragon Age The Veilguard be a promising return to form for Bioware

Saying Dragon Age The Veilguard is important for restoring Bioware’s lost reputation is an understatement. Bioware is a Canada-based game development studio that enjoys a legendary status in the community. Responsible for making games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, the Mass Effect franchise, and many more, millions of players hold the studio to very high standards.

However, as fate would have it, the last decade has been quite harsh for the studio as they had to deal with flops like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem. Nevertheless, the devs have shared that they have learned their lessons, and Dragon Age The Veilguard will most probably be their return to form.

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How Dragon Age The Veilguard can be a comeback for Bioware?

The Devs have learned their lessons (Image via EA)

In 2019, Anthem was intended to be BioWare's bold step into a new genre, but it ultimately became a prime example of what happens when a studio strays too far from its core strengths. The game, a loot-shooter prioritizing multiplayer and fast-paced combat, lacked depth in storytelling and character development that had defined BioWare’s earlier successes like Mass Effect. Baldur’s Gate and Dragon Age.

The result was a poorly received game, widely criticized for being incomplete and lacking content. On top of it, BioWare was quick to abandon Anthem post-launch, leaving a dent in its reputation. Reflecting on Anthem's failure, Dragon Age: The Veilguard's creative director, John Epler, acknowledged that the game pushed BioWare in a direction outside its expertise.

He highlighted how the team at BioWare thrives on storytelling and roleplaying, not fast-paced, multiplayer action. Recognizing this, Epler and his team now aim to focus on what the studio does best—building single-player RPGs centered around an engaging narrative. The studio has learned that instead of spreading its resources thin by chasing trends, it must double down on its strengths in what it does best.

A classic narrative-heavy linear adventure (Image via EA)

This focus is evident in The Veilguard’s mission-based system, which marks a shift from the sprawling open-world format of Dragon Age: Inquisition. By adopting such a structure, BioWare aims to handcraft the player's experience, ensuring a tighter narrative focus while addressing some of the criticism about Inquisition’s bloated environments.

Character development is also a key focus for The Veilguard, with BioWare promising that the player’s companions will be fully realized, unique individuals with personal motivations outside of one's influence. The game will require players to swap out companions for specific missions, pushing them to think strategically and explore the nuances of each character's personality.

Hence, with Bioware falling back on track to give fans exactly what made them fall in love with the studio in the first place, Dragon Age The Veilguard can most likely stage a return to form while being another gem in their crown.