Summary
It currently feels like gaming is in a bit of a golden era for single-player RPGs, and that is great news for fans of the genre.Cyberpunk 2077is preparing for a massive relaunch with Phantom Liberty,Baldur’s Gate 3has redefined what it means to be an RPG, andStarfieldis just around the corner. There seems to be a stellar RPG wherever players look, and the future of the genre has never looked brighter. However, this success has also put games likeDragon Age: Dreadwolfin a tough spot.
There is a lot riding onDragon Age: Dreadwolfas the release date nears. Not only does the game have to show RPG fans that BioWare is still capable of delivering fantastic adventures, but it also has to break free from the shadow of titans likeBaldur’s Gate 3. While the studio should be able to accomplish that, it feels like it is stuck in an impossible situation.Dragon Age: Dreadwolfwill have to do a lot if it wants any chance at exciting RPG audiences right now, and these next couple of months will be its chance to do just that.
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Dreadwolf Has Already Been Overshadowed by Baldur’s Gate 3
BioWare has been in a bit of a tough spot since the release ofDragon Age: Inquisition. While the game was one of the studio’s most successful titles, it was also criticized for being a bit rough around the edges and failing to match its predecessors. It would then go on to releasethe largely underwhelmingMass Effect: Andromedaand the critically pannedAnthem. Both games seemed to push the studio’s fans further away, and it has not really had a chance to win any of them back since.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolfwill hopefully be the studio’s chance to do that, but that remains to be seen. Not much has been revealed about the project since its announcement in 2019, and various behind-the-scenes issues have put its success in doubt. It has been delayed multiple times and there seems to be high staff turnover within the studio, with the most recent beingthe elimination of 50 jobs earlier this week. All of this has made RPG audiences doubt BioWare’s future.
WhileBaldur’s Gate 3may have taken RPGs to new heights, the franchise would not exist without BioWare. The studio was responsible for developing the first two games in the series alongside Interplay Entertainment. Both games were incredible RPGs that would be met with critical acclaim, and BioWare would go on to expand upon them with exciting DLC expansions. They would help put the studio on the map and cement it asa kingpin within the RPG genre.
Neverwinter Nightsended up being the lastDungeons and Dragonsgame that BioWare would develop before it moved ontothe likes ofMass EffectandDragon Age.Baldur’s Gate 3would mark the grand return of this franchise after 23 years, and Larian Studios seems to have done it right. Everything about the game is fantastic, and it has redefined what a modern CRPG can be. It has helped make Larian Studios a premier RPG studio, and fans of the genre cannot wait to see what the studio does next.
WhileBioWare struggles to gain a footholdin the market it once dominated,Baldur’s Gateseems to be in the healthiest position it has ever been. This success puts even more pressure onDragon Age: Dreadwolfto deliver because BioWare needs to show its audience that it still has what it takes. Its recent track record puts that ability in doubt, but hopefully it will be able to break through. Only time will tell if that is possible, and EA may want to speed up the marketing campaign if it wants any chance at doing so.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolfis in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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