BioWare just released a brand new preview for their upcoming dark fantasy RPG Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Following on from 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition, the developers have teased a cutscene from the upcoming game that, while short, has huge implications for the series.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, also known as Dragon Age 4, will be released in 2023 and may be one of the best RPGs of all time, if the developers play their cards right. Reportedly in very good shape by the developers, fans are expecting big things from this latest installment. It’s been a little over eight years since the last major Dragon Age release – a long time to be starved of dark fantasy goodness.
While it’s just under a minute long, this new preview suggests that Dreadwolf will shake up the Dragon Age saga in a big way, while also carrying the legacy of the game’s predecessors. While it may not seem like much at first glance, rest assured that the cutscene is packed with hints and tidbits.
As you can see, there’s a lot to unpack here. Let’s talk about the veil first; the barrier between magic and reality that clearly comes to play a key role in the Dreadwolf storyline. It’s a time-tested fantasy trope that Warhammer 40,000 and The Witcher also make generous use of.
However, the twist here is that the eponymous Dread Wolf seems determined to bring down this barrier (having put it down himself in the first place). The Fade, the magical realm of Dragon Age, is full of raw emotion and terrifying demonic powers. While Dragon Age: Inquisition toyed with the idea of breaking reality, a complete breakdown of the barriers between the magical and the real could take the game to some trippy and interesting places.
The trailer also raises the question of whether or not such a breakdown would necessarily be a bad thing. Is Dragon Age: Inquisition party member and elven god of legend Solas the Dreadwolf a tyrant or a freedom fighter? In typical BioWare style, the teaser invites you to answer that question yourself.
You may also recognize the soft tones of Varric Tethras, a fan-favorite party member from Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition. The choice to use Varric as the narrator not only gives us the chance to swoon over his velvety voice, but suggests that while Dreadwolf is determined to go bold new places, it will still be based on the existing continuity where fans of the series know and love.
Mass Effect Andromeda, the fourth installment in the Mass Effect series, was met with icy reception not only for its bugs and animation issues, but also for the ways in which it broke away from the saga’s established narrative. Perhaps by sticking with main characters like Varric and Solas and drawing on the series’ past, Dreadwolf will avoid that particular pitfall and deliver something that will satisfy established fans and newcomers alike.