After nearly a decade of anticipation, Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched with high hopes—but reality has painted a more complicated picture for BioWare’s latest RPG. Despite strong critical buzz during pre-release previews and a vocal core fanbase, the game has significantly underperformed commercially. According to Bloomberg, Veilguard has sold just 1.5 million copies, falling well short of EA’s internal target of 3 million—a nearly 50% shortfall that has spurred internal restructuring and major shifts in BioWare’s future plans.
Currently all versions of the game are on sale on Steam with prices slashed 50%:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1845910/Dragon_Age_The_Veilguard/
EA’s Pivot & The End of the Line for Veilguard
In an effort to recoup momentum, EA moved The Veilguard onto PlayStation Plus, hoping that a surge in player engagement might reignite interest. However, early reports suggest the boost hasn’t made the expected impact. BioWare has since confirmed the game is “complete”—meaning no DLCs, expansions, or live-service elements are on the horizon. Instead, the team has officially shifted focus to Mass Effect 5, which is now in full production.
That decision underscores a broader trend at EA and BioWare: prioritizing fewer, safer bets rather than the expansive, risk-heavy RPG experiences that once defined the studio’s legacy.
BioWare Continues Patch Support—For Now
Despite the lack of future content, BioWare is still maintaining Veilguard with patches. The recently released Patch 5 addressed numerous gameplay bugs, including:
- A fix for the Medium Armor Mastery skill not activating properly for Warriors.
- A glitch on Rivain’s beach that left players trapped in a drowning animation loop.
- Additional balancing tweaks and quality-of-life improvements.
This commitment to post-launch fixes suggests BioWare still wants Veilguard to represent a polished product—even as it prepares to leave the title behind.
The Fallout and Fan Backlash
The underperformance has triggered more than just internal studio consequences—it’s sparked a heated conversation in the wider gaming community. Veteran Dragon Age writer David Gaider, who helped shape the franchise during its earlier years, recently spoke out on what he calls “anti-fan” behavior. In his words, there’s a growing trend of gamers rooting for certain titles to fail before they even release, contributing to toxic online discourse and making it harder for developers to receive fair feedback.
Gaider also critiqued EA’s longstanding approach to the franchise, saying the publisher often leaned on the idea that the Dragon Age “nerd cave” of hardcore fans would always show up, no matter what. This mindset, he says, led to a deprioritization of depth and RPG nuance in favor of broader, more action-driven appeal. That shift is felt acutely in Veilguard, which leaned heavily into cinematic combat, simplified systems, and faster pacing—moves that divided longtime fans.
What’s Next for the Dragon Age Franchise?
With Veilguard now effectively closed, the future of Dragon Age is uncertain. While the franchise hasn’t been officially shelved, BioWare’s full attention is now on Mass Effect 5, which insiders say is still several years away. Given the current state of the studio—downsizing, leadership changes, and creative turnover—it’s unlikely we’ll see another Dragon Age project greenlit anytime soon.
There’s also a broader industry trend at play: sprawling, narrative-rich RPGs with high development costs are becoming riskier investments. Studios like Larian (Baldur’s Gate 3) have proven it’s still possible to win big with classic RPG design, but only when backed by the right vision, patience, and goodwill—three things BioWare has struggled to maintain in recent years.
In Summary:
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperformed significantly, selling only 1.5 million copies vs. 3 million projected.
- BioWare confirmed no DLC or live-service future; development has shifted to Mass Effect 5.
- Patch updates continue, but long-term support is winding down.
- David Gaider criticized both toxic fan culture and EA’s loss of RPG focus.
- The franchise’s future is unclear as BioWare reevaluates its creative direction.
If you were hoping Veilguard would usher in a new golden age for Dragon Age, it seems—for now—that dream has been put on hold.
Key Takeaways
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard has missed its sales targets by nearly 50%, prompting EA to add it to PlayStation Plus.
- BioWare continues to support the game with patches addressing gameplay issues and bugs.
- The future of the Dragon Age franchise may be uncertain given the game’s commercial performance despite its critical reception.
Game Overview and New Features
Dragon Age: The Veilguard builds upon BioWare’s legacy while introducing fresh mechanics to the beloved RPG series. The game delivers a mix of storytelling and combat innovations scheduled for release in Fall 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
Storyline and Setting
The Veilguard continues the epic narrative of the Dragon Age series, focusing on a new protagonist leading a group of companions called “The Veilguard.” Set after the events of Inquisition, players face a new threat to Thedas, the world where Dragon Age takes place.
The game explores tensions between various factions including mages, templars, and other groups familiar to series fans. Players will traverse diverse regions of Thedas, from densely populated cities to mysterious wilderness areas.
Recent patches have added recommended levels to side quests, helping players navigate the story’s progression more effectively. The narrative appears to balance returning characters with new faces, creating continuity while refreshing the experience.
Gameplay Mechanics
The Veilguard features refined combat systems that blend tactical decision-making with action-oriented gameplay. Players can pause combat to issue commands or engage directly in real-time battles.
The game incorporates:
- Enhanced mobility with dodge mechanics and vertical exploration
- Elemental combinations that reward strategic thinking
- Companion synergy where party members’ abilities complement each other
- Environmental interactions allowing creative approaches to combat
Combat appears to be a highlight according to search results, which describe it as “excellent” alongside positive mentions of level design. The fifth and final major update brought quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes to polish these mechanics further.
RPG Elements and Character Development
Character progression in The Veilguard maintains Dragon Age’s deep customization while streamlining certain elements. Players can shape their protagonist through dialogue choices and actions that influence relationships with companions and the world.
The equipment system allows for meaningful optimization with various weapons, armor, and accessories that affect combat performance. Skill trees provide multiple paths for development, supporting different playstyles from direct combat to support roles.
Companion relationships remain a cornerstone of the experience. Each party member has personal quests and unique perspectives on the unfolding story. Players can develop friendships or romances with certain companions, affecting both narrative outcomes and combat capabilities.
The game balances accessibility for newcomers while providing depth for series veterans, though some reviews note tension between traditional RPG elements and newer approaches.
Development and Release Updates
Dragon Age: The Veilguard has received several updates since its release. BioWare continues to support the game with patches that address player concerns and improve gameplay experience.
Content Updates and DLC
BioWare recently released Patch 5 for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which appears to be the final major update for the game. This patch introduced a helpful quality-of-life feature that adds recommended levels to side quests, making it easier for players to navigate content difficulty.
The update also fixed several bugs, including an issue with the Medium Armor Mastery skill for Warriors. Players who experienced getting stuck on Rivain’s beach in a cycle of drowning will be relieved to know this problem has been addressed.
Despite rumors about potential DLC, BioWare has not officially announced any expansion content for The Veilguard. This has led to speculation about whether the studio is shifting resources toward other projects, possibly including Mass Effect 5.
Community Engagement and Developer Insights
BioWare maintains communication with players through release notes and social media. The developer has been transparent about changes made to The Veilguard, detailing bug fixes and gameplay adjustments in comprehensive patch notes.
The studio continues to encourage player feedback, though some community members have expressed concern about the language in recent announcements suggesting development is winding down. According to search results, BioWare implied they are “basically done with” the game less than three months after release.
Players can still sign up for email updates through the official Dragon Age website to receive the latest news. This communication channel remains important for fans hoping to learn about future content or updates related to companions and other game features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dragon Age Veilguard has seen several updates since its release. Players have many questions about the game’s current state and future development plans.
What are the patch notes for the latest update of Dragon Age Veilguard?
Patch 5 for Dragon Age Veilguard includes several bug fixes and performance improvements. The update addresses issues with quest progression and character interactions that players reported.
The patch also fixes some problems with the in-game codex system, though according to recent discussions, some codex issues still remain unresolved.
Gameplay balance adjustments were made to certain combat encounters that players found too difficult or inconsistent.
Has the support for Dragon Age Veilguard officially ended?
Based on recent discussions, Patch 5 appears to be the final planned major update for Dragon Age Veilguard. This has raised concerns among players about remaining issues.
The development team has not made an official statement confirming the complete end of support. However, the focus seems to be shifting away from major content updates.
Bug fixes and minor patches may still be released to address critical issues.
Are there any new features expected in upcoming Dragon Age Veilguard patches?
No significant new features have been announced for future Dragon Age Veilguard patches. The development cycle appears to be winding down.
Players hoping for substantial new content may be disappointed as Patch 5 seems to focus primarily on fixing existing issues rather than adding features.
Community discussions suggest that any remaining updates will likely be limited to critical bug fixes.
When is the next major update for Dragon Age Veilguard scheduled for release?
There is currently no confirmed schedule for the next major update to Dragon Age Veilguard. With Patch 5 potentially being the final major update, a new patch timeline has not been announced.
BioWare has not shared a roadmap for future content or patches beyond the current release.
Players should monitor official EA forums and social media channels for any surprise announcements.
What improvements have been made to Dragon Age Veilguard for Next-Gen consoles like the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5?
Dragon Age Veilguard on next-gen consoles features enhanced graphics with improved textures and lighting effects. The game runs at higher frame rates on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Load times have been significantly reduced compared to previous generation hardware. This improvement enhances the overall gameplay experience.
The game takes advantage of the consoles’ SSD technology, allowing for faster world traversal and smoother transitions between areas.
Has a New Game Plus mode been introduced to Dragon Age Veilguard?
Currently, Dragon Age Veilguard does not feature a New Game Plus mode. This has been a requested feature from many players in the community.
There has been no official confirmation about whether this feature will be added in future updates. With support possibly winding down after Patch 5, the chances of seeing this feature may be limited.
Players continue to discuss the potential benefits of such a mode on forums and social media.
