The fall 2024 launch of BioWare's highly anticipated fantasy RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard is just months away, and the game brings a number of changes to the Dragon Age formula, including a reduction in the level of control players have over their companions in combat. In a recent interview with GamesRadar, BioWare explained the reasoning behind its decision to rework The Veilguard's companion combat system.
“[The Veilguard] “It’s a game with a lot more actions per minute,” says game director Corinne Busche. “It’s more technically demanding on the player. So when we tried to give you full control over your companions, we found that it didn’t add anything to the experience. In fact, it was detrimental, given the demanding nature of just controlling your own character.”
But the reasons that led players to limit control of their companions go far beyond technical logistics. BioWare felt that giving players full control of their companions in combat was also problematic from a role-playing perspective.
“Experience-wise, we wanted you to feel like you were Rook,” Busche said, referring to the player character by the nickname BioWare gave him. “You’re in this world, you’re really focused on your actions. We wanted the companions to feel like, as fully-realized characters, they’re in control of their own actions. They’re making their own decisions.”
Players will still be able to control how some of their companions behave in combat via an ability selection tool BioWare calls the “action wheel,” but Busche acknowledges that this departure from how combat worked in previous titles may feel a little strange to returning players.
“I have to admit that on paper, if you just read that you don’t have the ability to control your companions, it might feel like something has been taken away from you,” she said of the changes to the game’s combat. “But in our testing and validation with players, we’ve found that they’re more engaged than ever.”
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is currently slated for a fall 2024 release, though BioWare has yet to announce an official release date. For more information on the latest installment in the Dragon Age franchise, check out everything we know about Dragon Age: The Veilguard.