After nearly a decade simmering in development, BioWare unleashed Dragon Age: The Veilguard last year. While many RPG enthusiasts had pinned their hopes on it to restore the glory of BioWare’s franchise after past missteps, the release stirred quite a debate in 2024. Despite garnering fairly positive critic reviews—certainly an improvement over recent attempts like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda—the game has left players feeling lukewarm.
Currently, Dragon Age: The Veilguard holds a Mixed rating on Steam, with only 69% user satisfaction, trailing behind its series predecessors. To add to the woes, publisher EA revealed that the game only shifted about 1.5 million copies, falling short by 50% of their projected target. Several criticisms haunt the title, ranging from the perceived lack of player choice to weaker writing. Perhaps most notably, newcomers find it uninviting—a stark contrast to rivals like Avowed and the much-anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6, which offer more accessible experiences.
One notable aspect is that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Avowed, and The Elder Scrolls 6 mark fresh chapters in their respective, hibernating franchises. With Dragon Age: The Veilguard following the decade-gap left by Dragon Age: Inquisition, Avowed enters the scene years after we last explored the universe of Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. The Elder Scrolls 6 is still on the horizon, yet likely to land over 14 years post-Skyrim’s legendary debut.
Avowed and TES 6 are taking a different path with self-sustaining tales, diverging from the direct-sequel format. Avowed, though nestled in the Pillars of Eternity universe, spins its own narrative backdrop. It doesn’t require prior engagement with the original games, offering players a clean slate plus a handy in-game glossary for quick lore checks. As for The Elder Scrolls 6, while little is known, historical patterns suggest it’ll continue crafting standalone stories, unlinked from Skyrim, welcoming fresh adventurers with open digital arms.
On the flip side, Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s return to the narrative threaded through Dragon Age: Inquisition potentially curbed its reach. While one could dive in blind, the storyline genuinely clicks for those who have trekked through its predecessors. Lacking an in-game glossary like Avowed and not standing alone like Elder Scrolls titles, newcomers might have felt sidelined, affecting its broad appeal and performance in this competitive realm.
