Summary
BioWare surprised many fans when it gave an update on the nextDragon Agegame originally announced in 2022, revealing that its name had been changed toDragon Age: The Veilguard. The announcement of the change came shortly before its full reveal, alongside a blog post byDragon Ageexecutive producer Gary McKay explaining the reasoning behind the update.
Changing a game’s title two years after its announcement is a risky move, but BioWare’s statements indicate it wants to emphasize a different part of the game than whatDragon Age: Dreadwolfembodied. Rather than focusing on the game’s enemies,Dragon Age: The Veilguardinstead embraces the companionsthat comprise the titular group, who form the heart of the game.
The Core of Dragon Age: The Veilguard
One of the primary reasons McKay gave for the title change was the shift of focus from the villain to the companions of the game. Alongside the update was the announcement that there would be seven companions inDragon Age: The Veilguard, and that the change to the title was made to focus on them. The Veilguard refers to the group that comprises the protagonist and their companions, who guard against thedestruction of the Veiland the chaos that it would bring. BioWare has indicated that the Veilguard is a small group of just eight members, as opposed to the Inquisition, which was an entire organization with hundreds of individuals.
Aside from the companions comprising the heart ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, the titleDragon Age: Dreadwolfdidn’t seem to encapsulate the breadth of the threat that faces Thedas. BioWare has indicated that Solas is not the only enemy the protagonist will be facing, and the Dragon Age Day trailer, Thedas Calls, heavily implies that theEvanuris will become the larger threat. Developer videos with references to the “evil gods,” and references to “the risen gods,” as well as an ominous character speaking who isn’t Solas corroborate the idea that the Veilguard will be contending with threats far beyond the Dread Wolf, and the old title perhaps never really fit the game.
Beyond Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Much of themarketing forDragon Age: The Veilguard, including trailers, heavily featured Solasas the Dread Wolf. The change of title toDragon Age: The Veilguardmay indicate a shift in the direction of the marketing to instead feature the companions going forward. Changing the name of the game may cause confusion for a short time, but so little information aboutDragon Age: The Veilguardhas been released that it shouldn’t affect its release too much at this point. The title of the game is the audience’s first association with it, and it needs to give the correct idea and message. Correcting it now, before any significant information has been showcased, was likely the best option than changing it later or not at all.
Theprotagonist ofDragon Agehas changed with every game, so the entire series is about many different characters from all groups, rather than one individual. NamingDragon Age: The Veilguardafter a group rather than an individual, no matter the narrative importance of that individual holds true to the themes of the series as a whole. It establishes itself as a sequel and as a story about a team. As BioWare communicated, hopefully, the new title is more true to the spirit ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, and becomes clear to fans as the developer reveals more information.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
