Why the New Dragon Age is Failing with Flying Colors

Image Credit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard | BioWare | Electronic Arts

Welcome to Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a title that’s been in development for almost 10 years, estimated between $80 million and $200 million to make, and hyped as the next epic chapter in the Dragon Age saga while (twist ending) in reality it might just be the franchise’s very undoing.

Because in a world where Baldur’s Gate 3 has already proven that players can have meaningful choices and gritty, raw freedom, The Veilguard only seems interested in talking down to their audience while shoveling their Concord-sized agenda down the unwilling throats of gamers everywhere.

While I’m not going to sit and pretend that every single facet of this game was a complete disaster, I can say with unabashed certainty that, in a game that’s supposed to be an immersive fantasy – The Veilguard is trying its heart out to crush its fanbase from every conceivable angle.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Problems

Forced DEI Saturated Dialogue – Too Much of a Bad Thing

First things first: The Veilguard dives head first into the shallow end of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) territory, packing its world and dialogue to the brim with trans-activist themes, non-binary characters, and just enough social justice rhetoric that your soul will cry out for mercy.

If it’s not bad enough that they have to force feed you their ideologies of inclusivity, but The Veilguard presents these elements in ways that feel completely unnatural. I’m sure most have already seen this scene online, but for those who haven’t – I think it’s best to offset the cringe factor of over 9000 with these Seinfeld edits from Mao Zedonger:

Video Credit: Mao Zedonger | YouTube

 

In past Dragon Age games, character identities and stories evolved naturally. Here, the dialogue leans too much toward making a statement, instead of simply letting characters’ stories unfold on their own.

Not a Seinfeld gamer? Don’t worry, I gotchu:

 

Video Credit: FritangaPlays | YouTube

 

In another cringe-filled example, we get the infamous “pulling a Barve” exposition dump from the lens of Asmongold, who you just can’t help but love – even when the migraine from the morality-crushing dialogue is beginning to set in:

 

Video Credit: Asmongold Clips | YouTube

 

For those looking to dive into fantasy for escapism, being reminded of real-world activism just feels jarring and unwelcome. The Veilguard feels more focused on making a point than allowing players to explore the story or make bold decisions on their own terms.

 

Not Enough Cringe in Dragon Age for You Yet?!

Try some top-surgery scars in the character creator!

 

Video Credit: Hypnotic Live | YouTube

 

Hypnotic goes over this amazingly awful addition to the game more eloquently than I could, but basically you can add the absolutely necessary feature of gender transition surgery scars to your character in The Veilguard to show how brave and stunning your character is…coming soon to a grade school near you!

And I can already hear the liberal shills screeching in my ears:

“It’s optional”

“You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to”

“Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” 

 

But the TRUTH of the matter (that they’ll never admit) is that they’re using this game as soap box to try and normalize these character designs – all while distilling any overly masculine or feminine characteristics to only a miniscule selection of ambiguous body types.

You want a big buff guy like yourself? Sorry, nope. Then the “trans men” feel left out because they’re so itty bitty.

You want a thicc woman with a top shelf that matches that badonkadonk? Oh, no that won’t do. Then the non-curvy “trans women” are left out and that would hurt their wittle feewings too.

Basically, they use a “if we can’t have it, then no one can” mentality, all in the name of inclusion. Kinda weird that they have to exclude the majority of gamers to do so though…

 

The Guidebook to Modern Trans Ideologies – Dragon Age Edition

Just in case you are too young to understand the propaganda being blasted at you from all directions, the activists developers at BioWare wanted to supply you with a handy dandy guide on trans identity via the in-game codex entries too (yay!).

 

Image Credit: Laureano Gutiérrez | Posted on X

 

Reported on SmashJT.com and posted originally on X by Laureano Gutiérrez, this seems like it was explicitly added to the game for the sole purpose of “teaching” young gamers how to think *cough indoctrination cough* with fun phrases for the whole family such as:

• “Trans means was other gender. Then changed?”
• “-Wait. No. Was always new thing. Just now acknowledged.”
• “Not feeling right in body is dysphoria- WHOLE BIG THING.”
• “Never too late. Valid even if no words when younger.”

I’ve literally never seen blatant propaganda so out in the open, so kudos for that at least?

I’m honestly surprised they didn’t throw a line in there saying “Should target kids with sexy talk then blame bigots for being sexual – ME GET BIG LAUGH THEN GROOM”.

It’s just next-level crazy that they just went ahead and said the silent part out loud for all the world to see – the only consolation being that they can never take that back.

Limited Freedom and Sanitized Choices

One of Dragon Age’s strongest selling points back in the day was always choice—do you lean into the dark side? Do you lead with valor? The Veilguard‘s choices, however, feel tamed and linear.

There’s a clear framework within which your decisions are made, and that freedom that once made Dragon Age great is replaced by a sanitized, carefully managed dialogue that wants you to parade throughout the story role playing as a brainwashed social justice warrior…no thank you.

It feels as though every choice is crafted to fit a particular message, rather than reflect an authentic range of actions that players crave.

Baldur’s Gate 3 nailed this, giving players organic choices that feel truly open-ended. You want to play as a selfish jerk? You can. Feel like double-crossing your party? No problem. In The Veilguard, you’re locked into a predefined lane, where even “evil” actions feel filtered and toothless.

This lack of genuine freedom in a game built on player agency feels like a complete letdown and has fueled comparisons to the far more flexible experience offered by Baldur’s Gate 3 (which unironically still had a higher concurrent player count than The Veilguard this weekend after a full year of being out).

The Veilguard Reception: Critics vs. Players

What’s the buzz around The Veilguard?

Well, the gap between critics and players couldn’t be wider. “Professional” (and definitely not paid/incentivized) reviewers seem to be loving it—praising its “bold choices”, “inclusive storyline,” and “forward-thinking characters.”

High scores abound from the legacy media shills that have tossed their integrity and credibility aside long ago, but for every paid-in-blood review from a critic, there’s a torrent of unimpressed players letting their truths be known!

The average player sentiment isn’t just lukewarm; it’s downright cold.

 

In forums and reviews, players cite a lack of excitement, uninspired gameplay, and a feeling that the very Dragon Age identity itself has faded into the background.

The numbers don’t lie, either: The Veilguard‘s concurrent players can’t even break 100,000—a stark contrast to its predecessors, which saw record-breaking engagement.

And as these numbers continue to drop, the writing on the wall seems all too clear. While critics may be impressed by the game’s…intentions, players just want Dragon Age to remember its roots.

Diminishing the Legacy of the IP

When the OG Dragon Age first launched, it was hailed as one of the most immersive fantasy franchises around. Titles like Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition were absolutely amazing and offered storylines and characters that stuck with players long after they put down the controller.

They were raw, complex, and unafraid to let players make tough, often morally ambiguous choices.

Fast forward to The Veilguard, and it feels as though that edge has been dulled to a butter knife. Player counts are low, and the fervor that once surrounded Dragon Age has dimmed. Players are lamenting how a franchise known for its grit has shifted to something more tame. The Veilguard feels like it’s holding players’ hands, rather than letting them cut loose in a dark and dangerous world.

And then there’s the looming shadow of Baldur’s Gate 3, which has set a new standard for player agency and dynamic storytelling. The freedom to genuinely shape your character’s journey through unfiltered choices gives Baldur’s Gate a powerful advantage.

In comparison, The Veilguard feels hesitant, more interested in guiding players through a curated and socially-acceptable experience than letting them truly inhabit the world as they please.

 

 

In short, The Veilguard falls short where it counts.

Rather than embracing the complex, multifaceted player experience, it simplifies and sanitizes. This isn’t the Dragon Age gamers remember, and for a lot of loyal players, that feels like a slap in the face.

Another Woke Game Takes That Walk of Shame to the Trash Pile

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is like a decorated cake that, once you bite into it, leaves you wondering why all you taste is crap. On the surface, it has all the elements you would expect in a AAA title—good graphics, a sprawling world, and a lot of playtime waiting under the hood. But beneath that glossy veneer, it’s just a hollow shell of Dragon Age’s former glory – missing the edge and depth that once defined this once revered franchise.

For those of you who still want to dive in, I judge you not.

Just remember: this is Dragon Age in name, but not in spirit.

Play if you’re curious (or masochistic), but keep those expectations in check—there’s a good chance you’ll walk away wondering why it couldn’t have been a little more Baldur’s Gate 3, a little less…whatever the hell this is.