Dragon Age: The Veilguard trailer introduces your party and confirms release window

BioWare has finally released a proper story trailer for the newly-renamed Dragon Age: The Veilguard as part of the Xbox Showcase. The trailer brings back series mainstay Varric, as well as formally revealing the seven characters who appear to make up the main cast of the upcoming title. We also have a proper release window, confirming recent rumours, although no firm date as of yet.

Taking place in a Darkspawn-infested taproom, the trailer shows Varric and Scout Lace Harding (who debuted in Dragon Age II and Inquisition respectively) discussing the crew they will require to save the world. The specialists they suggest (and who will presumably be making up your main adventuring party in the game) include Bellara the Veil Jumper,  Davrin the Warden, Emmrich the Necromancer, Neve the Detective, Lucanis the Mage Killer, and Taash the Dragon Hunter. Each of these are emphasised with splashy freeze-frames showing off their names and titles, which Harding but not Varric receives, suggesting that Harding will be the game’s dwarf rogue this time around instead of Varric.

The crew of Dragon Age: The Veilguard certainly seems diverse and interesting enough, featuring a decent variety of humans, elves, dwarfs and Qunari, as well as bringing the Darkspawn-hunting Grey Wardens back into focus with a Warden party member. With the exception of Varric and Harding, the cast seems to be full of newcomers, which is probably the right idea when it has been 10 years since the last main instalment. Notably, the game will be following the model of Dragon Age II (and the more recently-released Baldur’s Gate 3) by having all romanceable party members not be restricted by the player character’s gender, as per a recent interview with IGN.

Although this teaser trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard didn’t show off any actual gameplay, we will see some of that soon. Later this week, BioWare will be showing off 15 minutes of gameplay. This should hopefully confirm the game’s combat system and give us a better sense of the companion’s personalities and how they interact with one another.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard will release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in northern hemisphere Fall 2024 (so sometime between September and November).