It’s the start of August and you know what that means, today I’m covering all the latest news updates that occurred in July regarding the next Dragon Age. EA Play 2021 has come and gone with no new material from BioWare, however, surprisingly there’s still plenty of news to cover.
We have new Antivan Crow concept art to dissect, VentureBeat have shared a 2023 release window with more info to come in 2022, BioWare have had some staff promotions, and there is a heavily rumoured Dragon Age Netflix show in the works. Also, I have a small tease at the end for a very exciting video that’s coming this week. So, like a nug on fire, let’s get straight into breaking down the latest updates.
Antivan Crow Concept Art:
In compensation for no Dragon Age news at EA Play 2021, Executive Producer Christian Dailey shared a brand-new concept art piece, along with the statement that the team have their heads down with a lot of momentum and are making great progress. They are excited to share more when the time is right, which is not at the moment.
"Hi Friends – sorry for no EA Play news this year but please know that the team is heads down with a lot of momentum and making great progress. We are excited to share more when the time is right. Please stay safe and have a great weekend!"
Christian revealed a concept art piece that featured Antiva’s deadly house of Assassins known as the Antivan Crows - which is exactly like I predicted in my June news update, that the next faction-based concept art piece would revolve around the Crows. The piece itself is beautiful, showcasing the Antivan Crows with an elegant and classy style. I’m getting Batman vibes from the centre Crow, as she stands overlooking the city's rooftops, ready to fight with her shiny rapier.
Her outfit is very sophisticated and gothic. It’s clearly denoting the Antivan Crow’s aesthetic with her raven-like mask, furry cloak and dark colours. Perhaps, only the Antivan Crow Talons can look as ritzy as her, because the following Antivan Crows in this concept art piece aren’t as posh as she is.
A male fighter on the rooftops has a bird-like mask with a furry cloak, it’s a nice getup, but not nearly as snazzy as our main Crow lady. The rest of the Crows are seemingly fighting against invading Venatori or another Tevinter faction given the fashion sense of the defeated warrior.
There’s another Antivan Crow to the right who looks as if they’re flying through the city, perhaps they’ve just jumped from a rooftop and intend on stabbing more fools. All the while, a crowd of civilians watch from a balcony, probably enjoying the sights of the Crows in action.
In summary, this concept art piece does a spectacular job at showcasing the Antivan Crows aesthetic, tone and mood. I’m eagerly excited to see the Crows' involvement in the next game, and if the next hero can play as one. Even if we can’t, judging the concept art and trailers, it seems like Antiva will feature quite prominently in the next game, which is incredibly exciting.
EA Play 2021 Orb Tease:
While the Antivan Crow concept art piece was compensation for BioWare’s lack of Dragon Age news at EA Play 2021, there was actually a very peculiar orb in the EA Play title shapes during the livestream. Not just any orb, but a very familiar elven god’s orb that has somehow been patched together... Does this mean that Solas has found a way to fix the orb? Is that what his future plan entails? Or was this just a tiny little tease thrown in the showcase to excite the Dragon Age fans watching and has no relevance going forward?
Probably the latter, but regardless of EA’s intention with this tease, the orb was a significant McGuffin for Solas’s plan to destroy the Veil. With its very mention, it could indicate what Solas plans to do next, if, of course, Solas has the orb in his possession. If not, perhaps someone else retrieved it and patched it up instead? Who knows, nevertheless it was still nice to see a small Dragon Age tease at EA Play 2021.
Dragon Age 4 2023 Release Window:
Moving onwards to a story that won’t surprise anyone who’s watched my latest videos on Dragon Age 4’s potential release window, Jeff Grubb via VentureBeat reported that Dragon Age 4 is expected for a 2023 release window. Even further, according to Jeff, we’ll start hearing more about the next game in 2022. Let’s crack into the scoop on this one, I’ll share my thoughts after going through the article.
Jeff Grubb shared that sources familiar with the next Dragon Age have confirmed that the game is on track for a release in 2023. When Jeff reached out to EA about the release date, a spokesperson said the company hasn't announced the date and has no plans to share it yet. Holding back during EA Play 2021 was about enabling the publisher to get the game into position to begin marketing it in earnest. That will likely start in 2022.
“Sources familiar with the fantasy role-playing adventure confirm the game is on track for release in 2023. When I reached out to EA about the release date, a spokesperson says the company hasn’t announced the date and has no plans to share it yet. Holding back during this EA Play is just about enabling the publisher to get the game into position to begin marketing it in earnest. That will likely start in 2022.”
Jeff continued with his expectations for the next Dragon Age and shared that BioWare are building the next Dragon Age as a single-player narrative adventure, just like the previous entries in the series. Of course, that doesn’t mean the game won’t have any online multiplayer. That was one of the major features of Dragon Age: Inquisition.
“And what should we expect from the game itself? Well, don’t worry about EA trying to bring the connected, online live-service model to Dragon Age. BioWare is building the next Dragon Age as a single-player narrative adventure, just like the previous entries in the series. Of course, that doesn’t mean the games wouldn’t have any online multiplayer. That was one of the major features of Dragon Age: Inquisition.”
Jeff ended his article on the notion that BioWare first announced Dragon Age 4 in 2018. At that time, he reported the game was at least three years away. If it is now out by 2023, that will make it five years since its reveal.
“BioWare first announced Dragon Age 4 in 2018. At that time, I reported the game was at least three years away. If it is now out by 2023, that will make it five years since its reveal.”
As per usual, I have many thoughts on this news. I trust Jeff Grubb, he has a good reputation and validity among the video games press industry, not to mention, I was literally saying the exact same thing a month ago given several factors in the next Dragon Age’s development that undoubtedly call for a 2023 release date like the pandemic’s delays, the project’s current production time, the single-player turnaround, and BioWare’s new approach to management and crunch conditions. And honestly given each of these factors, I want the next Dragon Age to take as much time as it can in development, so it can be as incredible as BioWare can muster, and so the developers can have more time working away and avoiding crunch.
If you ask me, it’s been pretty obvious the next game is still a while away given that we’re still only seeing pre-production work like concept art and prototype trailers. Which I’m not criticising by the way, I love seeing all of it, and dissecting anything related to the next game.
But I think anyone who’s advocating for a 2022 release window (or even earlier) needs to grasp that it’s only been two years since BioWare released Anthem. That’s only two years since the majority of the Dragon Age team returned to work on the next Dragon Age - which has had an in-flux in its direction and development.
Regardless, the more time the next Dragon Age spends in its production stages where the bulk of development happens, surely the better the game could be. As to the ‘more info in 2022 tease’, I’m all for a proper marketing campaign by BioWare, however, I wonder if we’ll still see a new Dragon Age trailer this year like BioWare initially announced back in December 2020.
Gamescom is around the corner, and if not that, we’ve got Dragon Age Day and The Game Awards 2021. I feel fairly confident that we’ll see something regardless of Jeff Grubb’s new info because BioWare have said they would. I suppose it’s a matter of if they’re still up for that, and what exactly they’d show off in a trailer. What do you think about a new trailer this year, do you think we’ll see one?
Lead Systems Designer Promotion:
Moving on, congratulations are in order for Blair Thorburn, as he has started a new role at BioWare as a Lead Systems Designer on the next Dragon Age. Wishing you incredibly well on this new position Blair, and hoping all the best for you and the team.
"Excited to be starting my new role as Lead Systems Designer on @dragonage. I've been working with the team for the last few months, and the opportunity to take on this role is one I couldn't refuse. We've got some great stuff coming."
Rumoured Dragon Age Netflix Show:
And that brings us to the final story of the day, Giant Freakin Robot have shared that there’s a Dragon Age Netflix Show in the works. The news site’s official stance is that they’ve received an exclusive, trusted and proven source that Dragon Age is getting a series on Netflix and the show is in active development right now.
“Giant Freakin Robot has the exclusive from a trusted and proven source that Dragon Age is getting a series on Netflix and the show is in active development right now. This has the chance to be a massive world-building affair.”
I shared a lot of my thoughts on this in my latest Landsmeet episode with Ethan "Baron Sitzkrieg", so if you’d like more of my immediate thoughts, check that podcast out. However, we both agreed that an animated Dragon Age show with the team behind Castlevania with Trevor Morris doing the soundtrack would be an epic concept for a Netflix show.
On the other hand, I really enjoy Netflix’s live-action Witcher show - while it’s a completely different feel to Dragon Age and Netflix’s Witcher show is based on the books not the games, it still proves that Netflix can do dark fantasy well, and can acquire an amazing team to get behind the project. I wouldn’t be against Netflix doing the same with Dragon Age. More things to see and talk about regarding my favourite series? Of course, I’d be up for that.
There was an EA earnings call in 2019 that said that there are plans for the next Dragon Age and some other products as well. So, we know EA are interested in expanding the Dragon Age universe even further, it just depends if this very specific rumour relates to that.
I’d say, take this Netflix show rumour with a grain of salt, if it does end up being true, we can be happily excited for it. But for the moment, it’s just a rumour from a somewhat reputable new site, with no official statement from BioWare.
So, we shall see in time if this rumour does end up being true. Here’s hoping right? What would you folks like to see for a potential Dragon Age show? Throw your ideas down below, I might even create a community spotlight video on that topic in the future if I get a good chunk of ideas from you all.
Before I leave you all to return to the Dragon Age drought, something big is coming to my channel this week. Something that should quench your thirst for a little bit. I’m not going to spoil the surprise just yet, but if you love huge lore drops and so much more, you should keep an eye out because something that I’ve never done before is coming, and it’s coming very soon.
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