BioWare provided several new details on Dragon Age: The Veilguard in a recent interview with Edge magazine (via GamesRadar). Some aspects are promising, like the sheer scale of Minrathous and how “lived-in” it feels compared to previous cities in the series. However, it’s confirmed that you won’t control your companions.
Director Corinne Busche explained, “On the experiential side, we wanted you to feel like you are Rook. You’re in this world. You’re really focused on your actions. We wanted the companions to feel like they, as fully realized characters, are in control of their own actions. They make their own decisions.”
On the gameplay side, this change is due to the nature of The Veilguard’s combat. Described as a “much higher actions-per-minute game,” it’s “more technically demanding on the player.” Busch says the team tried providing full control over your companions, but it wasn’t “adding to the experience. In fact, in some ways, it was detrimental, given the demanding nature of just controlling your character.”
BioWare knows how deflating this may initially seem, but Busch noted, “In our testing and validating with players, what we find is they’re more engaged than ever.” Besides, you can still give instructions in combat, like activating and comboing different abilities from the ability wheel.
While slated for this Fall on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s release date will be revealed later this month. Electronic Arts confirmed it’s out sometime between October 1st and December 31st, 2024, so stay tuned for more updates and gameplay details in the coming weeks.
