Bioware Confirms Dragon Age: Inquisition
Image via Bioware
Dragon Age: Origins was one of the most successful RPGs of recent years. Released by Bioware in 2009 to thunderous critical praise and commercial success, it established a franchise that was widely expected to be one of EA and Bioware’s primary cash cows for years to come.
Then Dragon Age 2 arrived, and things changed. While the first game was sprawling, open-ended and non-linear, the second was a much tighter, focused, and linear experience. Players had one primary story and quest line to follow, with very little to no deviation or exploration to be had. Reviews were generally positive, with most reviewers praising some of the mechanical changes to the game – the combat and the dialogue in particular - but questioning the lack of breadth when compared to the first game. Even so, the game didn’t sell well, with customers apparently put off by the fact that they weren’t simply given more of the same.
None of which prevented Bioware from pushing forward with development for a third Dragon Age game. Rumors have been making the rounds for a while now, but a few days ago the game was officially announced. Dragon Age: Inquisition hasn’t been given a release date, but some time next year would be a safe bet.
There’s little in the way of confirmed details for the game other than the fact that the same team that worked on the first two games is working on this one, and it will be moving to a new engine. The Frostbite Engine, developed by DICE, has most famously been used in the Battlefield Series and has been chosen for its ability to provide “a more expansive world, better visuals, more reactivity to player choices, and more customization.” Story details remain unconfirmed, but rumors suggest the setting will be Orlais, the French-influenced country of the game universe.
Granted, that’s not much to be going on with just yet, but it’s enough to get me excited, for one. At the very least, it’ll tide me over until Jade Empire 2 comes out.
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