Long waits for new titles are somewhat customary in the RPG genre, as developers take care to deliver comprehensive sequels to beloved games. Fans ofDragon Agecan relate all too well to these long periods of drought, with the last entry to the fantasy series coming almost a decade ago. While there’s word of considerable progress made onDragon Age: Dreadwolf’s development, withInquisition’s sequel advancing to the alpha stage and getting its official name, no official announcement of a release date is on the horizon just yet. Given Electronic Arts' marketing patterns for its more recentgames likeStar Wars Jedi: SurvivorandNeed for Speed Unbound, gamers can draw some insight to know when to expect significant news concerningDragon Age’s latest iteration.
The wait forDragon Age: Dreadwolfhas been particularly agonizing for fans, especially sinceDragon Age: Inquisitionhad such an explosive climax with the rampage of theRed Templarsacross Thedas. Expectations for the next installment of the series spiked whenDreadwolfwas first announced at The Game Awards in 2018, but factors including structural changes at BioWare set the title back, and the hope for a 2023 release date has essentially faded in the face of reality. Not much is known about EA’s plans forDreadwolf’s debut, but fans could get some official information in the coming months.
RELATED:BioWare’s Focus on Mass Effect, Dragon Age Will Be a Double-Edged Sword
EA’s New Marketing Strategy Could Push Back Dreadwolf’s Official Reveals
Initially, the title was reportedly on track for a 2023 release date, withDreadwolfentering its alpha phaseand developer BioWare teasing bits of lore in community updates. Historically,Dragon Age’s alpha timelines have been a matter of months, and the official announcement ofDreadwolfreaching this development stage sent ripples of excitement through its fan base. However, tidbits of information from EA have poured cold water on such predictions, as the title was conspicuously absent from the giant publisher’s plans for its fiscal year spanning from March 2023 to April 2024.
While there are still two slots for unannounced games on EA’s calendar,Dragon Age: Dreadwolfisn’t expected to make the list, and players might have to wait longer than initially anticipated for the title. Developer BioWare hasn’t helped much by way of official information, with its last big update coming earlier in the year, revealingDreadwolf’s non-linear skill treesthat enhance character customization. Despite the developer’s tight-lipped approach and the title’s omission from EA’s calendar, there should be some concreteDreadwolfnews in the coming months to help with the sequel’s marketing campaign.
Marketing is yet to begin in earnest forDragon Age: Dreadwolf, and this is the single biggest indicator for a new game’s release. These typically come at game events, and while the Summer Game Fest was a viable option to update its fans,Dragon Agewas an absentee once again. However, EA’s recent stance of smaller marketing windows withNeed for Speed UnboundandStar Wars Jedi: Survivormight have been in play, and considering the franchise’s notable history with The Game Awards, gamers can be optimistic forDreadwolfnews to emerge at the premier event. The upcoming installment’s last official trailer came back in 2020, and a new teaser is long overdue.
Avoiding the Q1/Q2 logjam that saw an injection of AAA titles likeZelda: Tears of the KingdomandHogwarts Legacyin recent years might have influenced EA’s decision to leaveDreadwolfoff its 2024 fiscal calendar. Considering this decision and the publisher’s new short marketing windows, the earliest chance for much-needed fan updates might be The Game Awards in 2023, sinceDreadwolfmay only become available for release around April 2024. A later reveal isn’t totally off the cards as well, soDragon Agefans might be in for more months of anticipation for the franchise’s next edition.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolfis in development.
MORE:Every Major Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Class Change as Indicated By Leaks
