With a review embargo released for Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a number of physical copies already making their way into the hands of gamers, new gameplay confirms the rumors and developer statements that the game is “ultra woke”.

A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare

Earlier this month a play tester broke his NDA and informed YouTuber Nuhre that the game was ultra woke and included the Qunari companion Taash informing the player character that she is “non-binary.”

He said, “She told me that ‘I am a non-binary person.’ How the hell that a fantasy game in Thedas have the word non-binary? She said that I don’t like men and I don’t like woman. I identify myself as non-binary. Just like that.”

Nuhre shared a screenshot of dialogue from the game that does indeed prove that this dialogue exists. Taash says at one point during the game, “Non-binary. I just said. And I’m going to use ‘they’ instead of ‘she’ from now on.”

She also shared another screenshot from the game that reveals BioWare included “Gender identity options” in its dialogue choice wheel.

Nuhre commented, “For anyone still on the fence about what I mean when I say the game is woke, and it will let you know at every single turn. Having diverse characters is not being woke. Having fantasy characters use modern-day language is being woke.”

 

She shared another screenshot of the dialogue wheel that allows players to establish “Transgender identity and unlocks new dialogue options in future conversations.”

Nuhre commented, “BioWars is dead. And the shills have killed it.”

Another screenshot of the game shared by Nuhre also appears to show a conversation leading up to Taash identifying as non-binary or discussion taking place soon after the reveal.

Neve informs Taash, “Some of my friends in Minrathous talk about not feeling comfortable in their own skin. As a man, as a woman…”

Nuhre commented, “Neve and Taash talking about the latter’s identity. I think to say this game is extremely woke is a pretty safe bet. Also, I told you so.”

 

As noted above, none of this is surprising in the least. Back in 2022, the Game Director, a man claiming the identity of a woman who with a name not given at birth — Corinne Busche — declared in a Developer Story on BioWare’s website that Dragon Age as a franchise is “inherently very queer.”

Busche said, “As a queer trans woman, I have a perspective on the games that not everyone has. Dragon Age has long been a place where LGBTQIA+ folks can see people like themselves, represented respectfully. It’s inherently very queer, and it’s such a rare thing for marginalized communities to have representation where we feel proud and powerful in how we are depicted.”

He added, “It’s so deeply meaningful for so many. I often get emotional when I think about what it would have meant for a younger version of myself to see someone like her in a game, and as a hero, no less. I hope we can be a safe place for our queer players to know they are not alone, that they are brilliant and worthy, that they are not only welcome but celebrated.”

Taash in Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare

Furthermore, Busche described himself in his profile on X as queerosexual gendermancer and a supporter of Black Lives Matter.

 

On top of this, BioWare revealed in a number of press interviews that all of the character in the game are pansexual and will be engaging in disordered relationships no matter what the player does. Creative Director John Epler told GameRant, “There’s a difference between playersexual and pansexual. All companions are canonically pansexual.”

Busche informed IGN that the companions were pansexual as well. IGN’s Alex Stedman reported, “Busche insists that they’re all specifically pansexual, and that might come through in what you learn about their backstories.”

Key art for Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare

Busche then explained, “Their past experiences or partners, they’ll reference them and indeed who they’ll become romantic with.”

He continued, “For instance, we saw Harding. I might be playing a straight male character flirting with her, but I choose not to pursue a romance. She might get together with Taash. So my perception, my identity has no bearing on their identities and that comes through really strongly.”

He went on to detail, “It’s not until the later parts of the game where you really commit to romance and it gets pretty spicy.”

A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare

It was then confirmed by a number of creators after BioWare gave them 7 hours to play the game that the character creator not only featured top surgery scars, but it gave players the options to choose various pronouns including she/her, he/him, and they/them. It also allowed them to choose man, woman, and non-binary.

What do you make of these confirmations that the game is ultra woke?