250°

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Star 'Absolutely Devastated' Over Backlash

Dragon Age star Alix Wilton Regan has given her personal response to the backlash faced by last year's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and blamed the "mixed reactions" on people who "wanted to see the game fail, or wanted to see [BioWare] fail".

-Foxtrot14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Blame everyone else...yeah...great stance

Gives off that "if you didn't like it then you are clearly one of those bigoted trolls" vibe

Lightning7714d ago

Who else's fault is it then? Let's talk about it.

-Foxtrot14d ago

There's not much to talk about, Bioware made a s****y Dragon Age game which was heavily dumbed down compared to their previous games.

Yes its true, some trolls were hating on it because of some silly reasons but the rest of people who actually had constructive criticism were lumped into those very same trolls to silence them.

Make anyone who actually has some valid things to say look like bad people so their criticism and opinions are automatically invalid. It's a PR move that has been going on for years, even Hollywood does it with films, it just causes fans to be at each others throats while the spotlight is taken off the games flaws and it becomes all about toxic fans. The developers then sit back, stir the pot while they get away with whatever they've done with their bad product.

OtterX13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

@-Foxtrot hit the nail on the head. For me, and many many others, it had nothing to do with transgender inclusion or whatever.... it was the dumbed down gameplay from previous titles that turned me off! It's cowardly to hide behind the social issue backlash and refuse to accept feedback on the actual game from the rest of us. We simply did not like the new gameplay.

So who's fault is it? Probably happened at the highest level, "let's make a dragon age dumbed down so that a larger audience will enjoy it, which will make us a lot more money!" Except... that backfired. Rpg gamers want deep rpg gameplay.Word got out that it wasn't.

joab77713d ago (Edited 13d ago )

The problem is that we’ve wanted a true successor to DA:Origins for years and never got it. Lorian literally learned from you and now makes your games better than you.
Don’t blame us for the fact that you know exactly what to make and choose not to every single time.
Be happy you sell what you do on name alone. BioWare was my favorite company for so long…

Armaggedon12d ago

@Joab

“Makes your games better than you?” Really? Last I checked, Bioware hasnt released a crpg since origins, so Larian is not doing anything one to one better than a fundamentally different type of game. Bioware has changed their direction, and fans are so bound to their attachment to the old Bioware, that they are becoming resentful and hateful, and worst of all…blind. Its fng up your perception.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 12d ago
thorstein13d ago

Who do you blame when the hate comes before a game releases? (ie MindsEye)

mkis00713d ago

Exactly. People are hiding behind their real reasons bs...everyone knows this game was targeted before it could be properly judged..ie before it was even released people decided to trash it.

coolbeans12d ago

You acting as though it's impossible to for anyone to gauge any potential red flags before a game's release, but that's not the case.

-Pre-release footage
-Title name changes
-In-house comparisons to Norse God of War
-An EA-published game that's been in development hell

I don't see the gotcha in your comment. Hell, bringing up MindsEye doesn't do you favors, given how selectively edited its trailers often are. The majority of 'hate' thrown towards MindsEye is justified skepticism.

thorstein12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@coolbean

That's because there is no gotcha in my comment. It's a genuine question.

Using MindsEye as an example is apropos because it's timely and the latest game to be hated.

It hasn't released and the hate I'm referring to is people straight up lying that no gameplay footage was released.

Hating games before they release isn't new. And no one is saying don't be cautious with a new IP. But you knew that already.

Lightning7713d ago (Edited 13d ago )

People originally hated the color pallette me included but I waited and wanted to look past the color scheme and what I played was solid. The characters aren't everyone's cup of tea ok I understand, but certain characters had a depth like identity struggle and navigating the world as their true self. Ok I like that character dynamic personally. I can go on but about what I liked in detail but anyway. People chose one thing to hate and ran with it and justified the reason each time leading up to release. DEI! Oh like mass effect dei same sex marriage? Where's the outrage for that all those years ago? Unwarranted amount of hate for stupid contradictory reasons. If you don't like for honest reasons ok cool respects but if it's bad faith then yeah not cool.

Now Minds Eye. I had to do some investigating. The studios biggest marketing promotion is from the creator of GTA Leslie Benzie already set themselves up for very high expectations. I know it's a way to get eyes on the game. You also have to deliver a experience that's at least on par maybe better with past GTA games. The pre orders went out with out gameplay or no real incentive to pre-order. So get your money now up front before we show anything. The "leak" and streamer showing "excitement" for the game. While comments are saying the game looks mid or at very least middling or skeptical comments. No deep dive gameplay just over a week away from Launch. They're already making road maps and promises already before the game even releases which also not a good sign. I dont hate for no reason if I see a game that looks weird I say something or I could be all wrong and the game could get a 80 meta after all. though I think it's gonna get a 57 meta personally.

PanicMechanic13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

There is literally dialogue of a character explaining how they need to pay reparations to another character in the form of doing push ups because they “misgendered” them. The dialogue in the game is hyper tolerant woke BS

It’s not the same as mass effect, not even close

mkis00713d ago

panic

sounds like an in game joke.

IAMRealHooman13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

@PanicMechanic Not how the scene played out. Isabela establishes that she made her crew do push ups if they fucked up, ( jobs, missions, anything,etc...) She misgenedered Taash and starts doing them on her own, Taash is confused until she explains it.

Now is Taash still badly written? Yes

neutralgamer199213d ago

It’s honestly frustrating to see what happened with Dragon Age: Veilguard. This is an established IP—fans knew what they wanted: a true sequel in spirit and tone to Dragon Age: Origins. Instead, Bioware overhauled the identity of the series so much that it barely resembles what made the earlier games great. Characters changing drastically, tone and gameplay shifting too far from the original formula—it just doesn’t land, and frankly, I’d argue Veilguard doesn’t even surpass Dragon Age 2.

If this had launched as a new IP, maybe expectations would’ve been different. But slapping the Dragon Age name on something that feels so disconnected only makes things worse. And once a game gets hit with that "agenda-driven" label—fairly or unfairly—it’s incredibly difficult to shake the stigma.

What makes it more frustrating is the tone from some developers. Telling fans, “This might not be for you” or “Don’t buy it if you don’t like it,” then turning around and painting criticism as toxic or bigoted when people don’t buy it—it’s not a good look. Open, respectful dialogue with the community is how the industry moves forward, not deflection or gaslighting.

Look at Black Myth: Wukong, or the excitement around Expedition 33. These games are succeeding on the merits of gameplay, world-building, and focus—not by leaning into polarizing narratives or identity marketing. Players just want well-made, fun, immersive games. It’s not that deep

Armaggedon12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

This is what people do in general, especially gamers. Gamers look at things as if the devs failed them, and never ask if they themselves are the cause of the dislike for the game.

@Foxtrot again

You calling it a s****y game is constructive huh? That is demolition, not construction. Lol

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
lukasmain14d ago

They never wanted to see it fail or the game fail, they wanted to see a good game with a good story that was in line with the original. They knew we weren't going to get this so they openly criticised everything about it. AND they were proven correct. The game sucked and failed in every way. Maybe you should have listened to the fans in the first place.

Blad3runner0013d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Perhaps people just wanted a proper Dragon Age game, not a Disney inspired Dragon Age, with awful writing.

MrDead13d ago

This game was changed from a live service to a single player game quite late in the development, I'm surprised it turned out as well as it did. The writing and the direction was screwed by EA marketing teams.

Then you had all the anti-woke psychos set loose by heavily politicised streamer grifters. How people take their directions from those nutters I will never know.

jambola13d ago

how are they grifters? are you just parroting what other people say or do you have proof

MrDead13d ago

Do you have proof that they're not?

I mean just look at Rumble who are funded by people like Peter Thiel and JD Vance or Turning Point USA training right-wing influencers and and paying troll farms to brigade and mass comment right-wing talking points on social media and streaming platforms and then you have the management group Today Is America that manage over 200 influencers and creators to spread right-wing sentiment to their young audience.

Like I said, grifters.

Please feel free to look up anything I've stated.

jambola12d ago

"do you have proof that they're not"
that's not how things work bro
do you have any proof you didn't commit horrible crimes in secret?

MrDead12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You forgot to read the rest of the comment kid.

Like I said feel free to disprove anything I've stated.

https://www.splcenter.org/r...
https://nupoliticalreview.o...

jambola12d ago

that only applies to certain ones
doesn't apply to anyone specific

Star5113d ago

wrong. it isn't a good dragon age game. as someone who's never played a dragon age game. I like it with no previous bias/ history. but I understand those who don't like the turn. But it's not a bad game (cheesy lines aside), it's fun to play

Armaggedon12d ago

Subjective. Something people now and days cannot seem to grasp.

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60°

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 devs praise games like Space Marine 2 for "lowering the barrier"

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 developers discuss the huge success of Space Marine 2 and its effect on the series as a whole.

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videogamer.com
50°

Inside the ‘Dragon Age’ Debacle That Gutted EA’s BioWare Studio

The latest game in BioWare’s fantasy role-playing series went through ten years of development turmoil

In early November, on the eve of the crucial holiday shopping season, staffers at the video-game studio BioWare were feeling optimistic. After an excruciating development cycle, they had finally released their latest game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and the early reception was largely positive. The role-playing game was topping sales charts on Steam, and solid, if not spectacular, reviews were rolling in.

HyperMoused2h ago

Its easy they called the die hard fans people in their nerd caves who will buy anything and then went woke to reach modern audiences....insulting the nerds in their caves along the way showing utter contempt for their fan base. very hapy it failed and any company who insults their fan base and treat their customers with contempt and insults, in future, i also hope fail.

200°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

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twistedvoxel.com
TheEroica6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb4h ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

derek4h ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

RaidenBlack1h ago

NGL, next year might be one of the best years in gaming ... starting off with RE9 and GTA VI ...
and then all the good games that's been cooking
Pragmata, Sands of Time, Saros, Gears E-Day, 007 First Light, Blood of Dawnwalker,
Mortal Shell II, Onimusha, Marvel1943: Rise of Hydra
current-gen only Infinity Ward's CoD, Duskbloods
+ My guess: Wolverine, Exodus, Mudang, Crimson Desert, Clockwork etc ...
~ seems like it might get too stacked

OtterX10h ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer19929h ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX9h ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer19928h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted7h ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast7h ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica6h ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand1255h ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer19925h ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts5h ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 5h ago
Lightning776h ago(Edited 6h ago)

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot078h ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen7h ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica6h ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer887h ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

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