Highlights

  • In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, combat is finally "actually fun," according to Mark Darrah, the former executive producer.
  • The game retains familiar features while also going in bold new directions, like a shift to a more action-oriented combat system.
  • Players will only control the main character, Rook, in battle, with a reduced party size and a release window set for fall 2024.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard consultant and former executive producer on the project, Mark Darrah, has claimed that the new game is the first time in the series that combat is "actually fun." Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the long-awaited fourth installment in the fan favorite Dragon Age fantasy RPG series. The Veilguard will be retaining much of what made the previous games so popular, while also taking things in some bold new directions.

Fans of the Dragon Age franchise should be able to expect a familiar experience with Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They will once again be leading a party of companions on an epic quest where player choice can have a massive impact on the narrative. However, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is also making some major changes, like switching from a more tactical combat system to one that puts a greater emphasis on action.

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Mark Darrah recently spoke to Game Informer about Dragon Age: The Veilguard's combat system. "Uncharitably, previous Dragon Age games got to the realm of 'combat wasn't too bad.' In this game, the combat's actually fun." Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a greater focus on action than any previous game in the series, with older titles placing an emphasis on strategy and tactics. Combat in older Dragon Age games certainly isn't for everyone, though some fans will likely take exception to the insinuation that the combat wasn't fun in the previous titles. After all, there are many diehard Dragon Age fans that prefer the more tactical approach found in earlier entries and have expressed disappointment in the direction Veilguard is going in.

Mark Darrah Says Dragon Age: The Veilguard is First Time Combat is 'Actually Fun'

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is making another major change to the combat system by making it so players can only directly control the main character, referred to as Rook, in battle. Previous Dragon Age games let players freely swap between different members of their party, taking direct control of their companions. Companions can still be issued orders in Dragon Age: The Veilguard battles, but players won't be able to be as hands-on as they were before. It's also worth pointing out that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is reducing the party size from four characters at once to three.

In this game, the combat's actually fun.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is definitely making some changes to the tried-and-true Dragon Age formula, and it remains to be seen how it will all work out. Some fans have been quick to rush to judgment, but ultimately, we won't know how Dragon Age: The Veilguard truly stacks up until the game is released to the masses. Unfortunately, a specific release date has yet to be announced for the game, though we do know that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is aiming for a fall 2024 release window.