Following a seemingly strong launch for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, there’s in all probability a good few sequence newcomers contemplating delving into the unique trilogy. However anybody hoping for a Mass Impact: Legendary Version model remaster should not maintain their breath; Dragon Age: The Veilguard artistic director John Epler says the undertaking can be difficult as a result of hardly anybody left at BioWare is aware of how the studio’s previous engine works.
Mass Impact: Legendary Version was well-received when it launched again in 2021, introducing the likes of improved efficiency and visuals, enhanced fashions, new lighting, gameplay tweaks, and extra. It was a welcome finessing of a traditional trilogy, and the form of remedy most would in all probability agree BioWare’s different beloved trilogy deserves.
Nevertheless, in a latest interview with Rolling Stone (thanks PC Gamer), Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd artistic director John Epler – who’s been with BioWare because the authentic Dragon Age’s launch again in 2009 – famous that whereas he’d like to see the trilogy get the remaster trilogy, it might be a problem on account of first three video games’ proprietary engines.
Not like the Mass Impact trilogy, which was developed in Unreal Engine 3, Dragon Age Inquisition was created utilizing EA’s Frostbite engine, whereas Dragon Age 1 & 2, extra problematically, had been constructed utilizing BioWare’s personal Eclipse Engine. “I feel I am considered one of about possibly 20 folks left at BioWare who’s truly used Eclipse,” Epler defined. “[Remastering Dragon Age is] one thing that is not going to be as straightforward Mass Impact, however we do love the unique video games.”
However there’s maybe some small hope for Dragon Age followers, given Epler did not solely shut down the concept. “By no means say by no means,” he added, “I suppose that is what it comes all the way down to.”
After all, EA’s curiosity in giving Dragon Age the Legendary Version remedy – and certainly its persevering with curiosity within the sequence as a complete – will doubtless hinge on the success of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which appeared to get off to a strong begin when it launched final week. The writer hasn’t but trumpeted any official figures, however The Veilguard did handle an all-time peak of 89,418 concurrent gamers on Steam, setting a brand new document for a single-player EA sport.
What which means for The Veilguard’s future is unclear, however talking forward of launch, Epler stated BioWare’s “full consideration… has shifted solely to the subsequent Mass Impact”, which means it had no DLC plans, past “quality-of-life enhancements and a handful of smaller content material updates”.
No matter what occurs subsequent, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a little bit of a deal with. “What BioWare has managed to perform right here, within the face of all of the stress it is confronted since Dragon Age: Inquisition got here out 10 years in the past, is extraordinary,” Eurogamer’s Robert Purchese wrote in his 5 star evaluation. “The Veilguard is exquisitely realised and filled with sophistication throughout programs and storytelling. It is heat and welcoming, humorous and hopeful, light when it must be, and naturally it is epic – epic in a approach I feel will set a excessive bar not just for BioWare in years to return however for role-playing video games typically. That is among the many absolute best of them.”