After a long hiatus and a series of flops, BioWare has returned withDragon Age: The Veilguard, an action-RPG that, while extremely contentious, is at least not universally panned—something that can’t be said about the likes ofAnthem. Despite its problems,Dragon Age: The Veilguardcould be setting the stage for the studio’s return to the mainstream, perhaps being just the first step on the road back to prestige and ubiquity.
Regaining positive audience perception will be a hard-fought battle, though.Dragon Age: The Veilguardmay have been showered with praiseby the press, but a prevailing opinion is that it wasn’t the revivifying release BioWare needed for a true comeback. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly,Veilguardfell short of EA’s sales expectations, according to the publisher’s own reports. This means thatVeilguardwas not a commercial success, and at a company as large and profit-driven as EA, this can be an existential matter. As such, BioWare has a vested interest in putting its best foot forward with a new game, one that is sure to garner just as much, if not more, attention thanVeilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Is Out, Mass Effect 4 Is In
A Mass Effect 4 Reveal Can and Should Be Right Around the Corner
Since its brief and cursory announcement trailer in late 2020,Mass Effect 4has been more or less missing in action. Little to no official details have been delivered from BioWare itself, and with 2025 marking the fifth year since the aforementioned announcement, some more tangible information is long overdue.
Mass EffectandDragon Agewere once the perfect one-two punch from BioWare. The famed developer had a foot in both the sci-fi and fantasy genres back in the late 2000s and early 2010s thanks to this killer combo, which only strengthened BioWare’s dominance in the RPG space in the wake ofgames likeStar Wars:Knights of the Old Republic. Simply put, BioWare was casting a wide net with these two critically acclaimed franchises, whose alternating launch schedules were evocative of a tidal wave, so consistent and unrelenting were these new releases. Capturing this dynamic once again, following up aDragon Agegame with the true reveal of a newMass Effect, could help BioWare recreate some of its once-unstoppable success.
BioWare Might Be in Serious Need of Some More Goodwill
It’s fairly common for even the most well-crafted games to cause a great deal of discord for one reason or another, and controversy doesn’t necessarily mean that a game isn’t a success. That said, it’s safe to say thatDragon Age: The Veilguardfell short of expectations—even those that love the game must admit that it wasn’t received as the triumphant return of BioWare, which is what the company needed; real hype and allure are in short supply for BioWare at the moment, so a lot is riding onMass Effect 4. A confident, impressive reveal before the year is out could be just the shot in the arm that the developer needs.
Though there was a lot ofculture-war-centric debate swirling aroundVeilguard, with many bad actors lambasting it for being “woke,” there has also been a great deal of balanced, measured criticism leveled at the game.
AMass Effect 4reveal would also help put series fans at ease in the wake ofVeilguard’s contentious launch. There have been murmurings about BioWare either shutting down or massively downsizing, resulting in anoutright cancelation ofME4, and while the developer has openly refuted such rumors, an undeniable confirmation thatMass Effect 4is on the way, and in good hands, would be much more impactful.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
