BioWare announced it is renaming its upcoming Dragon Age game from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to Dragon Age: Veilguard. At the same time it’s been brought to public attention that the game’s director is a man pretending to be a woman who supports Black Lives Matter. He also believes the game is “inherently queer.”
Dragon Age: The Veilguard title card
In a blog post titled “The Next Dragon Age Has a New Title,” BioWare explained that the change in title is because they did not want to put the focus on the enemy, but rather the player and his companions.
The blog post detailed, “Naturally, the Dread Wolf still has an important part in this tale, but you and your companions – not your enemies – are the heart of this new experience. So, to capture what this game is all about, we changed the name as the original title didn’t show just how strongly we feel about our new heroes, their stories and how you’ll need to bring them together to save all of Thedas. We proudly introduce to you Dragon Age™: The Veilguard.”
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (TBA), BioWare
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BioWare previously revealed that the Dreadwolf was Solas, one of the companions introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
A cinematic from the game shared back in December 2022 detailed, “I knew him as Solas, a thoughtful mage obsessed with dreams, but long ago he had a different name Fen’Harel, the Dread Wolf. Ancient Elven god of lies or heroic rebel against tyranny depending on which story you believe. In his final fight with the Elven god, Solas imprisoned them and created a veil that split our world from the raw magic of the Fade.”
The cinematic continues, “But now, he wanted to tear down that veil and destroy the world. And we’re the only ones who can stop him.”
Following this announcement, former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern aka Grummz wrote on X, “Bioware Dragon Age has been renamed to Dragon Age The Veilguard. New gameplay trailer to debut June 11. I’m hoping for a great game free of modern politics. Uh oh…”
He then included a screenshot of the Game Director Busche’s locked X account, which shows he claims to be a woman, queerosexual gendermancer, and a supporter of Black Lives Matter.
Bioware Dragon Age has been renamed to Dragon Age The Veilguard.
New gameplay trailer to debut June 11.
I’m hoping for a great game free of modern politics.
Uh oh… pic.twitter.com/LV5nmhQNSL
— Grummz (@Grummz) June 6, 2024
While this information is being brought to light to a wider public by Grummz, a developer story focused on Busche reveals his identity “as a queer trans woman” has indeed been injected into the game.
Busche detailed, “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.”
Concept art of Antiva by Nipuni for Dragon Age: The Veilguard (TBD), BIoWare
Busche also makes it clear he is indeed guiding the game to adhere to this vision, “Game directors are sometimes thought of as big personalities who are singularly responsible for the purity of their creative vision.”
“But for me, it’s really about being a steward for the vision that we, as a team, have collectively defined. I get a high-level view of everything as it’s coming together and can steer the project as it does, but ultimately it’s about empowering people to work together, play with ideas, offer critiques, and make decisions, all to help create a cohesive experience for the player,” he said.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (TBA), BioWare
He also noted, “In Dragon Age, you can be who you want to be, explore the possibilities and consequences of your choices, and build relationships that leave a lasting impression.”
“Few games give players that kind of autonomy while also weaving such a rich narrative—I think it really speaks to why our players feel so invested in this world,” he added.
Concept art of Rivian by Gabriela Isache for Dragon Age: The Veilguard (TBA), BioWare
BioWare lost numerous top executives and developers in the middle of production of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Back in January 2023, Mac Walters a 19 year veteran of the studio announced he was leaving on LinkedIn, “With a new year comes new adventures. As some of you already know, at the end of last year I decided to leave BioWare. These past 19 years have been a life-changing experience to say the least, and it made the choice to go very difficult.”
He added, “I’ve worked with so many wonderful people and had the privilege to be a part of the most amazing teams and projects. It’s hard to fathom it all, and I know I’ll be reflecting on it for years to come. Thank you to everyone I’ve had the joy of working with, and I wish everyone at BioWare the very best in everything you do. It’s truly been a pleasure.”
Walters is now leading a competing studio in Worlds Untold.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (TBA), BioWare
The company also lost Dragon Age Senior Creative Director Matt Goldman in 2021. BioWare General Manager Gary McKay announced his departure stating, “Matt Goldman is leaving BioWare. We have mutually agreed to part ways, and his last day is today.”
“We understand that Matt’s departure has an impact on you, as well as the game’s development. Rest assured our commitment to a high-quality Dragon Age game has not waivered, and we will not ship a game that is not up to BioWare’s standards,” he added.
It also lost Dragon Age Lead Producer Fernando Melo in 2019 after he was with the company for 12 years. Former General Manager Casey Hudson and Executive Producer Mark Darrah left in 2020. Those two had been with the company for 20 years.
Concept art of Anderfels by Solelle for Dragon Age: The Veilguard (TBD), BIoWare
In August 2023, the company also announced significant cuts. McKay detailed in a blog post, “In order to meet the needs of our upcoming projects, continue to hold ourselves to the highest standard of quality, and ensure BioWare can continue to thrive in an industry that’s rapidly evolving, we must shift towards a more agile and more focused studio.”
“As part of this transition, we are eliminating approximately 50 roles at BioWare. That is deeply painful and humbling to write. We are doing everything we can to ensure the process is handled with empathy, respect, and clear communication,” he said.
He detailed this decision was made to “preserve the health of the studio and better enable us to do what we do best: create exceptional story-driven single-player experiences filled with vast worlds and rich characters. This vision balances the current needs of the studio—namely, ensuring Dragon Age™: Dreadwolf is an outstanding game—with its future, including the success of the next Mass Effect™.”
A screenshot from Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014), BioWare
What do you make of the Game Director claiming Dragon Age: The Veilguard is “inherently queer?”
