Dragon Age: The Veilguard won't have a full gameplay showcase until tomorrow, but BioWare just released a tiny sneak peek at in-game footage — its first ever — in the meantime.
You can watch the 20 seconds of gameplay below. In it, we see Rook, the name for the playable protagonist in The Veilguard, with Dragon Age mainstay Varric. "She's the best damn detective I've ever met," Varric is heard saying in the footage. "If she says she's got a lead on Solas, I believe her."
Enjoy this sneak-peek at tomorrow's Gameplay Reveal!
— Dragon Age (@dragonage) June 10, 2024
Rook and Varric arrive in the stunning - and seedy - city of Minrathous. Little do they know what dangers await. Tune in tomorrow to find out: https://t.co/UGVqA1ZiTE #DragonAge pic.twitter.com/LSJ3oBVoZo
Solas, as fans know, is the former companion of the protagonist in Dragon Age: Inquisition who's actually the elven god Fen'Harel, or the Dread Wolf. As for who is it that might have a lead on him, we could already glean from yesterday's cinematic trailer reveal that Varric may be talking about Neve, who's referred to as "The Detective" in the showcase of companions. But if that wasn't clear enough, the quest objective of "Find Neve Gallus" that pops up should erase any confusion.
Otherwise, it's just a brief look at Rook and Varric descending into the city of Minrathous, complete with a moody, foreboding atmosphere. It's quite the departure from the lively cinematic trailer that debuted yesterday during the Xbox Showcase, which had some fans worried that The Veilguard would veer too far away from the darker tone and art style of previous Dragon Age entries.
The response had some, including BioWare cinematic designer Derek Wilks, urging Dragon Age fans to wait for tomorrow's gameplay reveal before casting judgment. The early reaction to the quick look at gameplay has largely been positive, with fans relieved that it does still indeed look like a Dragon Age game.
Tonally so different from that reveal trailer, seems genuinely dark and foreboding... this feels like dragon age.
— Ameer (@SynthPotato) June 10, 2024
Thank god ?
Information on the decade-in-the-making sequel has slowly been trickling out since yesterday's trailer reveal, including the fact that The Veilguard will let you play as a human, elf, dwarf, or qunari. Fans will have to wait for tomorrow's official gameplay showcase for more, though.
In the meantime, check out IGN's exclusive interview with BioWare general manager Gary McKay where he explains, among other things, why they changed the name of the fourth Dragon Age game from Dreadwolf to The Veilguard. And for everything that was announced during yesterday's Xbox Showcase, check out our roundup.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
