Ever since the Inquisitor stabbed a map of Tevinter at the end of Dragon Age: Inquisition's Trespasser DLC, fans have known they would be traveling to the Tevinter Imperium— the oldest existing human empire in Thedas—in its eventual sequel. Nothing has contradicted this fact since Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's official reveal back in 2018, and it seems fans have even seen shots of the Tevinter capital of Minrathous. But while Tevinter will likely be the focus on the upcoming title, there are reasons it shouldn't be the only country players travel through.
It was recently confirmed via a recent BioWare community update that fans wouldn't have to play the original games to understand Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. This isn't surprising given how the franchise works. No one needed to play Dragon Age: Origins or Awakening to understand Dragon Age 2, and no one needed to play either of them to understand Dragon Age: Inquisition.
For fans, it's great context and world-building, but it also means any game is an operable entry point for the franchise, including Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. This is good news for potential new fans, but at the same time, BioWare has to balance introducing players to recurring elements while not creating a lot of repeat exposition for existing fans.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's World Can Tell a Story for New and Old Players
In fact, this balance is something Dragon Age: Inquisition struck perfectly. New players know there's a giant whole in the sky, demons are attacking, and they have to fix it. Simple as that. However, veteran players no doubt appreciate seeing Cassandra and Varric side by side after Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age: Origins players enjoy realizing this is the same Haven from the Sacred Ashes quest, and veterans enjoy seeing Leliana, Cullen, and others come together, all while introducing new elements. Dragon Age: Inquisition took players to Orlais, but it started somewhere familiar for players - Ferelden.
Indeed, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf would do wise to balance its worldbuilding for newcomers and veterans in the same way. Tevinter will be at the heart of the story, just like Orlais was for Dragon Age: Inquisition, but it should start players somewhere more familiar: the Free Marches. Seeing Haven and Ferelden post-Blight, in the midst of Dragon Age's Mage-Templar War, was interesting for fans, so to see Kirkwall post-Mage Templar war seems like a no-brainer.
It would be simple enough for newcomers to understand but add a lot of nuance for experienced players. Inquisition reached back two games to bring Ferelden to the fore again, while introducing something new, and the same would be true for Dreadwolf to reach back to DA2 for the Free Marches. Stories there can continue to unfold—lots of Dalish elves roam the Free Marches, after all, and there's the whole story of Starkhaven to be explored—while Solas' plot in Tevinter can continue.
After all, Tevinter is very different from Orlais and Ferelden in its approach to the Chantry and to magic, so it's going to be foreign for even experienced players. That's not to mention if surrounding countries come into play, as the Mortalitasi of Nevarra, the Grey Warden fortress in Anderfels, the Qunari of Seheron, the politics of Rivaini and Antiva, and more are all at the doorstep of Tevinter. Not to mention, Solas' plot is likely to see players in the Fade a lot, especially with the "Fade world" anagram of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. It's very possible these countries have some investment in their next door neighbor and Solas' plot, but even for the most experienced player, these are going to be a lot of new elements to juggle. Bringing back the Free Marches ensures a smoother entry into the next chapter of Dragon Age.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is in development.