Dragon Age 4 - What We Know So Far

The Dragon Age series has dazzled RPG fans since the first game, Dragon Age: Origins, released in 2009. Though the franchise backslid a bit with Dragon Age 2, 2014's critically acclaimed Dragon Age: Inquisition reaffirmed BioWare's storytelling and game design chops. From the branching narrative and highly detailed setting to the constantly evolving mechanics and companion relationship system, Dragon Age continues to captivate the attention of players. 

Given over half a decade has passed since Inquisition released, gamers have long wondered and speculated about where BioWare would take the franchise next. Though Electronic Arts announced Dragon Age 4 with the theme "The Dread Wolf Rises" at the 2018 Game Awards, a lack of updates and other factors had fans worried about the title's future. Would Inquisition mark the end of the beloved series?

Despite the wealth of departures, rumors, and issues with BioWare's other IP, Anthem, it seems the Dread Wolf will indeed rise. What do the developers have in store, and when will players finally get their hands on Dragon Age 4? Here's what BioWare and EA have established up to this point.

Though BioWare continues to seed details about Dragon Age 4, the release date does not number among them. Despite this, it's possible to connect some dots and make an educated guess about the sequel's launch timeline.

As of August 2020, Dragon Age 4 was still in the "early production" stage. A behind-the-scenes look at the follow-up offered some additional insights regarding the status of the game. Spanning just over four minutes, the video provided a wealth of concept art for characters and locations, in addition to some in-engine footage showing areas ranging from snow-covered peaks to underground caverns.

Based on the behind-the-scenes sneak peak, the writers have established enough of the Dragon Age 4 narrative to put together a script. It seems voice actors have already started recording their lines, including Gareth David-Lloyd, who reprises his role as Solas from Dragon Age: Inquisition. While this might suggest the game is further along in the development cycle, voice recording often takes place early in the timeline prior to character design and animation.

Given these details, and the fact Inquisition spent about four years in development from early concepts onward, Dragon Age 4 will likely release around 2022.

BioWare revealed Dragon Age 4 via a teaser trailer at the close of 2018. Though just over a minute long, the trailer is rife with meaning, especially for those who have finished Dragon Age: Inquisition and its final DLC, Trespasser.

The trailer focuses on an object that resembles the Red Lyrium Idol from Dragon Age 2 in the opening moments. The corrupted artifact drove more than one person insane over the course of the game. Though the developers implied it had met a specific end, it seems the item may play a key role in Dragon Age 4. In the final moments of the trailer, you see an image of Solas and Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf, with the idol suspended between them. This culminates in two powerful lines: "You've found me at last. I suspect you have questions."

This teaser has spawned a number of Dragon Age 4 fan theories. Eagle-eyed viewers were quick to spot the Dread Wolf's three red eyes, a detail that diverges from its depiction in Trespasser murals. The key exception is Solas' Trespasser tarot card, which also shows the wolf's eyes suffused with a red glow. Some have interpreted this as proof that Solas plans to infect himself with Red Lyrium to increase his power and tear down the Veil, but the truth remains shrouded in mystery.

BioWare has yet to confirm where Dragon Age 4 will take place, however, several details point to the Tevinter Imperium as the most likely possibility.

Though Inquisition focused on Ferelden and Orlais, the game included several references to the Tevinter Imperium and its current state of affairs, including some blatant foreshadowing. In the final cutscene of the Trespasser DLC, the Inquisitor stabs a dagger into the nation on a map, heavily implying they had tracked Solas and his next scheme to the country. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, an anthology of Dragon Age short stories released on March 10, 2020, also fans the flames of this theory.

According to Jason Schreier, work on Dragon Age 4 began in 2015 under the codename "Joplin." EA later cancelled the project and shifted the majority of BioWare's staff over to the flagging Anthem before rebooting Dragon Age 4 as "Morrison." While it remains unclear how much Joplin will influence Morrison, it's possible that key elements, such as the planned setting, will carry over. Where was Joplin's action slated to unfold? You guessed it: the Tevinter Imperium.

BioWare has made it clear since the first teaser dropped in 2018 that Solas will play a large role in Dragon Age 4's story. The rest of the cast, including who else will return from prior series entries, remains unclear. However, a review of the "behind the scenes at BioWare" video released in August 2020 provides some clues.

The four minute mini documentary contains a large collection of concept art. A female Qunari appears in multiple shots, indicating she will likely serve as one of the PC's companions. You can even spot her silhouette in an image showing eight shadowed figures in a line towards the middle of the video, suggesting this may be the first look at the core party members in the next game.

While details remain scarce, clips of voice actors provided during the behind-the-scenes look helpfully supplied the names of at least two new characters: Bellara and Davrin. It's obvious Davrin is a member of the Grey Wardens, the group to which the Dragon Age: Origins protagonist belonged. Bellara's potential role and background are less defined.