Dragon Age: The Veilguard Journal #14
Hey, Rooks! New Trial with EA Play Try out Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s new demo Hey everyone, Atimed trialof Dragon Age: The Veilguard releases on all platforms today for anyone with an EA Play* subscription! We’re excited to share this opportunity to experience the game with more people this holiday season. If you’ve been looking for a demo to try out the game before you buy, now is your chance, especially while the game ison sale. It’s the perfect time to grab TIME’s #1 Game of 2024. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the newest installation in the beloved fantasy RPG Dragon Age franchise. You play as Rook, a customizable character, on a journey with your mentor, Varric, and his team to stop elven gods from destroying the world. The timed trial concludes after five hours of play. You’ll start right at the beginning with the opportunity to create your Rook and fight alongside series-favorite Varris Tethras through a chaotic moment in Minrathous, a city which has been long-spoken about in Dragon Age but never seen until now. Your team is trying to stop Solas’ tumultuous ritual, which threatens to flood the world in demons and cause massive devastation. Along the way, you’ll meet a few of Rook’s companions who will open up a wealth of new combat options as you progress through the trial. If you don’t spend too long in our in-depth Character Creator, you may get as far as recruiting the Veil Jumper Bellara, our elven artifact expert, along your journey. If you’re a Character Creator aficionado like many of us but don’t want that to cut into your five hour trial, we recommend you check out the stand aloneCharacter Creatorwe released on Dragon Age Day to make your Rook first**. You can take your time to perfect your Rook, as there is no time limit for the stand alone Character Creator. We’ve ensured that you can import your customized Rook from there into the timed trial. When creating your Rook, there will be an “import” button to use any pre-created Rooks from the same device/console. Before you begin, we have multiple blogs and guides to help so you can maximize your time within the trial, covering some overall tips, progression, combat, and our accessibility options. We have three classes - Mage, Rogue, and Warrior - to choose from, and lots of options to make sure you can play the game your way, from difficulty level to our skill tree that you can respec at any time in case you want to try out new techniques. Start by picking the class that resonates with you most and have fun exploring all they have to offer. Here are a few resources we recommend reading through ahead of getting started: Overview & Tips Progression Guide Combat Spotlight Accessibility Spotlight We’ve also worked with some excellent content creators within our community to make class and build guides! The 9 BEST Early Builds for all 3 classes in Dragon Age The Veilguard For those of you getting into the trial, we hope you enjoy the latest chapter in the Dragon Age series and experience what critics are calling “a high fantasy romp fueled by fast, fluid combat” (EMPIRE) and “one of the year’s best” (Rolling Stone) in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Make sure your platform account is linked to your EA Play account in order to access the trial! We have loved seeing the community’s reaction to Dragon Age: The Veilguard and sharing this adventure with all of you. We still have another planned patch for early 2025 - so stay tuned and have a great rest of the year. Talk soon. (Dareth shiral!) — The Dragon Age Team
My feedback - From Origins to Veilguard: The Fall of a Beloved Franchise
The Veilguard. A game that should have been the triumphant continuation of Dragon Age's legacy, but instead stands as a glaring example of how misguided leadership and personal agendas can derail a beloved franchise. While it’s great that you enjoyed parts of the game, it’s impossible to overlook the fundamental issues that have left so many fans disillusioned and disappointed. Let’s start with the so-called puzzles. It’s difficult to even call them that without feeling like you’re overstating their complexity. The Veilguard doesn’t offer puzzles that engage your intellect or tie into the lore of the world. Instead, it presents tasks that are little more than mundane errands—moving objects, flipping switches, or solving basic patterns that feel like they belong in a mobile game, not a premium RPG. The satisfaction of problem-solving, something that Dragon Age used to excel at, is completely absent here. Instead of making players feel clever or immersed, the game reduces these moments to boring, uninspired chores. And then there’s the loot system. In previous games, collecting resources and finding items felt tied to exploration, strategy, and the narrative. Here, it’s a monotonous grind. The process of breaking random barrels and furniture in search of materials turns your hero into a glorified vandal, smashing their way through the world in a way that’s entirely disconnected from the story. It’s not just tedious; it actively breaks immersion. How did we go from looting ancient ruins and earning rewards for completing complex side quests to this shallow, thoughtless approach? The root of these problems lies squarely in the leadership of Corrine Buche. Under her direction, Dragon Age has been stripped of its identity and turned into something unrecognizable. For years, Dragon Age stood out as a series that seamlessly integrated diversity and inclusivity into its world without making it feel forced or preachy. It was one of the first major RPGs to feature same-sex romances and characters from a variety of backgrounds, and it did so organically, letting these elements serve the story and enrich the world. Under Buche, however, inclusivity has been turned into a political statement rather than a narrative tool. Features like neutral pronouns and genital scars feel less like meaningful additions and more like a box-ticking exercise designed to signal progressiveness. These choices don’t add to the story or enhance the experience; they stick out as jarring and unnecessary. Dragon Age always embraced diversity, but it did so naturally, through deep characters and thoughtful writing. What we see now is a franchise hijacked by Buche’s personal vision, which prioritizes her worldview over the series’ legacy. This shift has alienated many players. Not because they oppose representation—Dragon Age fans have always been open-minded—but because it feels performative and shallow. Players aren’t looking for a game to lecture them; they’re looking for immersive storytelling, complex characters, and choices with real consequences. Instead, we got a game so focused on avoiding controversy that it sacrificed depth, challenge, and identity. The backlash isn’t surprising. Many players now avoid games the moment they’re labeled "woke," because they’ve seen this pattern before: shallow storytelling masked by superficial gestures of inclusivity. The result is a game that feels sanitized, safe, and detached from the dark fantasy roots that defined Dragon Age. Thedas was once a brutal, morally complex world where choices carried weight and players wrestled with dilemmas that had no easy answers. Now it feels more like a fairytale, scrubbed clean of its grit and complexity. The tone, aesthetic, and narrative direction have all shifted so drastically that it’s hard to even recognize this as part of the same series. And what about the future of The Veilguard? Hopes for a New Game Plus or DLC are slim at best. Developers have already hinted that no additional content is planned, and given the game’s lackluster reception, it’s easy to see why. The production costs were undoubtedly astronomical, yet the sales and reception suggest the game didn’t come close to breaking even. If The Veilguard had been a financial or critical success, EA and BioWare would be celebrating it publicly. Instead, there’s an uncomfortable silence, a quiet acknowledgment of a missed mark. Buche’s leadership has proven to be a mistake, one the franchise cannot afford to repeat. Her lack of experience and insistence on injecting her personal worldview into the game have severely damaged Dragon Age. This isn’t a role for someone still finding their footing or trying to use the franchise as a platform for personal ideals. Dragon Age needs a leader who understands its roots, respects its audience, and has the vision and maturity to steer it back to greatness. Buche, unfortunately, is not that person. If BioWare wants to save Dragon Age, it needs to acknowledge the mistakes made with The Veilguard and learn from them. This means bringing in experienced developers who can honor the franchise’s legacy while finding meaningful ways to evolve it. It means creating games that prioritize storytelling, player choice, and character development over shallow gestures and misguided agendas. Above all, it means respecting the fans who have supported this series for over a decade. At its core, The Veilguard feels like a betrayal of what Dragon Age once stood for. It’s a stark reminder of how easily a beloved franchise can lose its way when the wrong people are at the helm. If BioWare wants to avoid turning Dragon Age into a cautionary tale, it must act decisively to course-correct—and that starts with finding leadership that understands what made this series great in the first place. For now, The Veilguard stands as a painful lesson in how not to handle a legacy. Let’s hope the next chapter doesn’t repeat the same mistakes. ##Final Note: Before anyone misinterprets my message, I want to make it clear that my critique is directed at the creative leadership behind The Veilguard, not the individual personally. My tone has been respectful, focusing solely on the franchise and the product, with the intention of providing honest and constructive feedback. I have no intention of offending anyone—this is simply me exercising my right to express my opinion as a dedicated fan of Dragon Age.
Improvement for dragon age the Veilguard.
I want to have the dragonage character creation to have more characters allowed then three. I have played every dragon age game and only the Veilguard limits the characters allowed. I want to play every race and class allowed but don't want to delete one to create a new one. Plus I would also like a new game plus mode added to. Does anyone else feel the same?
(Guide) Welcome! To Dragon Age The Veilguard
Hey Rook, Thanks for taking a moment to check out the EA forums, If you are looking for more information on Dragon Age: The Veilguard you've come to the right place. While Chuckles is busy with his ritual here is some information that might be useful to you on your journey. For the latest news from the team check out our EA page, Social Media, or Youtube channel. Dragon Age The Veilguard will be available on the following platforms: EA app | Steam | Epic Games | Xbox | PlayStation Dragon Age The Veilguard Patch Notes Dragon Age™: The Veilguard Patch 3 (PC/Console) Dragon Age™: The Veilguard Patch 2 (PC) Dragon Age™: The Veilguard Patch 1 (PC/Console) EA Help Articles How to get additional content in Dragon Age™: The Veilguard Information Links: Dragon Age The Veilguard Game Editions Journal Entries: Journal #1 Introducing The Veilguard Journal #2 The Voices of the Veilguard Journal #3 Dragon Age: The Veilguard is coming October 31 Journal #4 PC Features for Dragon Age: The Veilguard Journal #5 Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance[A New Weekly Narrative Podcast] Journal #6 Lethality and Levelling Journal #7 Progression & Companions Journal #8 Exploration Across Thedas Journal #9 Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe Co-Composers Journal #10 Accessibility Spotlight Journal #11Spotlight: Specs Journal #12 Top Things to Know before You Play [Discussion] Journal #13 Dragon Age Day 2024 Other Links: Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Developer Q&A Launch Letter from BioWare Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in Fall 2024. That’s all for now, talk soon! — The Dragon Age Community Team Are you new to the EA Forums? If you are looking for information on how to use or navigate EA's forums check out our EA Forums Tutorials & Rules guides. You can also find The latest information and tips on our EA Forums Info Hub that might be more relevant to you. EA Forums Info Hub Every community has its own rules and guidelines. By using this forum you are agreeing to abide by theEA Forums Rules & Guidelines, be sure to check them out before making a post.Dragon Age™: The Veilguard CHARACTER CREATOR
Hey Rooks! It's finally here! Time to start making more of your amazing character creations and show them off to the world! Jump in, create, have fun, and share them all! Robust Customization Options Craft your personalized Rook from a variety of appearance options and sliders for Human, Qunari, Dwarf, and Elf lineages including lifelike hair, facial features, tattoos, and more. Be Who You Want to Be Character customization goes beyond appearances. You’ll also select from different lineages and combat classes as well as choose your character’s faction and backstory. Start Your Adventure When you open Dragon Age™: The Veilguard (sold separately) on the same platform, you’ll be able to carry over your character and begin your adventure with the Rook you created. Where can I download this amazing app you ask? EA app | Steam | Epic | Xbox | Playstation
Game Awards
I’m gonna be honest, the game awards nominations this year, utter garbage. When voting I came across best RPG and expected dragon age veilguard to be one of them. Nope, honestly if I could’ve voted for veilguard to win, I would have. This game is amazing with role play, not even just that but the story and plot, even the character/companion background stories were fantastic and well written.Journal #5 Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance [Narrative Podcast]
A New Weekly Narrative Podcast Starting August 29th For information on the new podcast check out the full blog by the team: Journal #5 Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance Hey everyone, We’re back with more Dragon Age: The Veilguard news! We know that you’re excited to get to know more about our companions and embark on your own adventure to save Thedas. Starting August 26th, we’ll be hosting Companions Week on oursocial media to give you a deeper dive on our seven allies. In addition to that, how about another little side quest? We’re happy to announce our upcoming immersive fantasy podcast series,Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance, where you’ll meet a new pair of heroes, along with the 7 Veilguard Companions, brought together by fate as they embark on a journey of revenge, redemption, and love - all set in Thedas. Beginning on August 29th, this eight part weekly narrative series stars podcast-exclusive characters voiced by Mae Whitman, Brigette Lundy-Paine, and Armen Taylor, and also features all of our companions from Dragon Age: The Veilguard: Harding (Ali Hillis), Davrin (Ike Amadi), Bellara (Jee Young Han), Neve (Jessica Clark), Taash (Jin Maley), Emmrich (Nick Boraine) alongside Manfred (Matt Mercer), and Lucanis (Zach Mendez). Throughout the series, you’ll be able to learn more about each of their extraordinary backstories. This podcast is written by Will Melton and Jeremy Novick, with BioWare narrative support from Mary De Marle and John Epler. Check out the teaser for ithere. When the first episode airs, you’ll meet Nadia, a retired thief unknowingly working for the Dread Wolf. Nadia and her lover, Elio, find themselves in the midst of something much greater than them - a threat to the entire world - until Elio is seemingly banished to the Fade. Enter: Drayden, a writer with an interesting connection to the Fade. Drayden and Nadia team up on an arduous adventure to rescue Elio from the Fade with a little help from some familiar friendly faces. Don’t miss a single episode - mark your calendars with the full podcast release schedule below: Join us in the BioWare Discord Server for weekly “listening parties” in #Vows-and-Vengeance, where we’ll set up a discussion thread for each episode to listen and speculate together. Subscribe to Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance on your favorite platform so you don’t miss a single episode. See you for Episode 1 on August 29th; chat soon. -The Dragon Age Team
