No stranger to controversy, BioWare’s newest game, Dragon Age the Veilguard, is seeing quite a bit of discourse online. With everything from the art style to the fundamental addition of deeper and more robust Inclusivity Options, and everything in between, on the proverbial dartboard just waiting to be targeted: It was only a matter of time before some of the biggest names from Bioware spoke up in defense of the property. Bringing to the fore both their opinions on the new game and the takes some fans have decided to latch onto.
Controversy
Of the many controversies facing Dragon Age: the Veilguard, many are not new. The series has come under fire in the past for issues like female character models not being “sexy enough,” the infusion of real-world politics in the narrative, and the inclusion of queer identities. Now detractors have added to that list panning the game for how “Woke” it is and how it’s no longer a real Dragon Age game. Citing the many inclusive options in the latest iteration, like more realistic body sliders, the ability to choose pronouns, and the cosmetic inclusion of top surgery scars -for those who wish to see their Transgender selves represented in-game.
Response
David Gaider; the man responsible for the writing behind Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition and a major contributor to the entire series’ lore; went on record, via social media, calling out those so-called fans as “tourists.” And denigrating them for their ridiculous takes on how the games have changed over the years, their sexist and misogynistic opinions on how “manly” female characters look, and their assertion that the Dragon Age series is dead or dying a tragic death.
In response to the argument that female characters look too manly, and the assertion that Lace Harding; a returning character from Dragon Age Inquisition and official companion for Veilguard; has an Adam’s apple and is therefore not feminine, Gaider Wrote:
“The females aren’t hot enough. Yet, because they’re clued into the notion this is obviously incel behaviour, they’ve swapped out “unattractive” for “masculine” and thus “transgender” because that’s a framing that makes them seem political instead of porn-brained. But we all know what they mean.”
Gaider then brings up an example to exemplify some fans’ recurring sentiments on the subject by noting, in a sarcastic but poignant tone:
“And here I am, recalling how this has been a thing ever since some dude whined 10 years ago about Cassandra actually being a man, posting over and over about her giant jaw and posting phrenology pics to scientifically prove why his pee-pee remained flaccid.”
When confronted by another poster online, who argued that Gaider could not possibly know what an attractive woman looks like, because he is Gay, Gaider fired back with a response ignoring the obvious provocation and justified his stance by stating:
“If it was just a matter of them not finding characters attractive enough, that’d be fine. That’s not just it, however. They’re angry at any game, which doesn’t supply them with characters they specifically find attractive and grasping at reasons why they’re being denied. Quite something else.”
Fact Check
While the controversies involving character models are as old as time, the assertions that Dragon Age has gone too far left in recent years and is full of “Woke Indoctrination” have been what’s put its defenders on edge. With the rise of people endeavoring to uncover every possible Trans person in games, media, and real life, the arguments that female characters in Dragon Age games are far too masculine have only grown with the continued misinformation about the Trans community. With the increased scrutiny, some players have taken these conspiracy theories and juxtaposed them against the series as a whole – to make such accusations stick and justify their hate of the series.
In truth, the Dragon Age series’ narrative has always been full of the hottest takes on social and political issues that parallel the issues people still face today. Misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, social inequality, political corruption, religious trauma, religious indoctrination, bigotry, warmongering, aesthetical contradictions to assumptions of gender, and xenophobia are just some of the real-life topics, reflected throughout the series’ narrative. Therefore, offering to the players an avenue wherein they can confront such larger-than-life systemic issues, head-on, and endeavor to change them for the better -when the idea of change seems far too monumental in real life.
Release
Dragon Age: The Veilguard (and its series) is the property of Bioware, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts, headquartered in California. It will be released via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 31, 2024. Currently available for preorder, the game is rated M for mature and may include themes not suitable for some adults. More details, about the game’s upcoming release, can be found on BioWare’s official blog and YouTube channel.
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