Following the players and critics, some developers also expressed their opinions about Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler did not rate the new BioWare game and bluntly called the project «a return to the stone age of political correctness.»
The developer of the Ori and No Rest for the Wicked published a lengthy post in which he criticized the current state of the video game industry. He compared the situation to the cloying shows of the 80s from his childhood, where they avoided sensitive topics and uncomfortable questions. Thomas Mahler contrasted them with series like The Sopranos or Breaking Bad, whose creators were not afraid to highlight the real problems of society and an individual.
It's not hard to guess that in the eyes of the creator of Ori, the newly-minted Dragon Age: The Veilguard has become that same cautious family show that tries not to offend anyone:
Looking at games now, it's clear to see that we're apparently moving back to the stone age of political correctness. I just watched a Dragon Age playthrough and it's quite unfathomable how infantile and terrible the writing is. Everything feels sanitized and dehumanized... I hate to sound so harsh because I'm sure these people had the best intentions in mind, but this is what happens when art is created by amateurs, when we have to walk on eggshells and don't dare to approach difficult subjects — you end up with a bland and bad product instead of art.
Thomas Mahler summed up his statement with a parting word, advising developers not to be afraid to take on risky topics for plots.
Meanwhile, another accusation against Dragon Age: The Veilguard has come from players. Gamers have smashed the game's rating on Metacritic — the average score at the moment is 4/10 based on almost three thousand reviews. Fans have mainly criticized the departure from dark fantasy and the presence of an «agenda». Meanwhile, on Steam, the game is doing great — the share of positive reviews is 79%.
Earlier, the developers of Dragon Age: The Veilguard announced that the game will not receive an add-on. Instead, BioWare is starting to create a new Mass Effect.