Dragon Age: The Veilguard—Why It Struggled Beyond the Live Service Narrative
The gaming industry has seen many franchises fall victim to misguided narratives about why a game succeeds or fails. One such case is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a game that some have argued failed because it wasn’t a live service or multiplayer game. However, this is a false narrative that shifts focus away from the real issues—its story, writing, and departure from what made Dragon Age a beloved franchise.
The False Narrative of Live Service and Multiplayer
In the wake of The Veilguard’s reception, a common argument arose suggesting that the game would have been better off as a live service or multiplayer experience. This assumption, however, ignores the core audience of Dragon Age—a community built around deep, single-player RPG storytelling, player agency, and immersive world-building.
Historically, the Dragon Age franchise has thrived on strong narrative design, player choice, and character-driven storytelling. Titles like Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition proved that well-crafted single-player RPGs could succeed without multiplayer or live service models. Inquisition, for instance, sold over six million copies and was critically acclaimed, even winning Game of the Year in 2014. None of that success was tied to multiplayer, despite the inclusion of a co-op mode that most players ignored.
The push for multiplayer in games like Anthem and other failed live service projects from Electronic Arts (EA) only highlights that this model does not guarantee success. The Veilguard struggling had nothing to do with its exclusion of multiplayer; instead, its issues stemmed from core design and writing choices.
What Went Wrong with The Veilguard?
The real reason The Veilguard failed to resonate with many fans was its deviation from the formula that made the franchise successful. The problems primarily stemmed from:
1. A Shift Away from Classic Dragon Age Storytelling
One of the most significant issues with The Veilguard was its writing and story direction. Dragon Age has always been known for its dark fantasy setting, mature themes, and intricate political and personal conflicts. Origins was filled with morally gray decisions, ruthless betrayals, and a deep sense of world-building. Inquisition struck a balance between heroism and political intrigue.
However, The Veilguard seemed to move away from this, adopting a tone and style that felt out of place in the Dragon Age universe. Many fans criticized the game's lighter, more generic fantasy storytelling, which lacked the depth and nuance that made previous entries engaging.
2. Over-Simplified Writing and Dialogue
Dragon Age has always been praised for its complex character interactions, dialogue trees, and deep role-playing elements. Yet, The Veilguard seemed to simplify dialogue choices and character interactions, reducing the player's sense of agency. Instead of the weighty, choice-driven dialogue of Origins or Inquisition, the game leaned into a more streamlined approach that felt less rewarding for long-time fans.
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Many players felt that the writing lacked the sharp political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and layered character arcs that made the franchise stand out. Dragon Age has always thrived on its ability to make players feel invested in the world, its factions, and its conflicts—but The Veilguard failed to deliver that same depth.
3. A Departure from What Made Dragon Age Unique
Each Dragon Age game introduced something that built upon the franchise’s identity. Origins gave players a hardcore RPG experience with multiple origin stories. Dragon Age II focused on a personal journey through Kirkwall, and Inquisition expanded the scale with war councils, kingdom management, and deep character relationships.
The Veilguard, on the other hand, seemed to shift toward a more action-oriented RPG experience that lacked the RPG complexity fans expected. While change isn’t inherently bad, The Veilguard didn’t evolve the Dragon Age formula in a way that felt meaningful to its core audience.
4. Ignoring the Elements That Sold Millions of Copies
The franchise's past success was built on deep world-building, meaningful player choices, and well-developed companions. EA and BioWare knew what worked in Origins and Inquisition—so why abandon that approach?
Instead of doubling down on what made Dragon Age great, The Veilguard strayed too far, alienating its dedicated fanbase. Fans weren’t looking for an entirely different experience; they wanted refinement, evolution, and depth in the storytelling and world-building.
What BioWare Should Have Done
If BioWare wanted The Veilguard to succeed, they should have focused on the proven formula that made Dragon Age a powerhouse franchise. Instead of chasing trends or reworking the series into something unrecognizable, they should have:
Conclusion
Dragon Age: The Veilguard didn’t fail because it wasn’t a live service or multiplayer game. That narrative distracts from the real issue—the game’s writing and direction failed to capture what made Dragon Age special. Fans weren’t looking for a drastically different approach; they wanted a refined, evolved experience that stayed true to the franchise’s roots.
BioWare and EA still have time to course-correct, but they need to recognize the core reasons for The Veilguard’s struggles. Instead of chasing industry trends, they should focus on delivering the deep, meaningful RPG experience that Dragon Age fans have loved for years.