GamesRPGDragon AgeDragon Age 4As the 10-year wait for Dragon Age: The Veilguard ends, RPG veteran says AAA series like GTA show how a big gap between sequels “can actually improve the impact” of each releaseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGDragon AgeDragon Age 4As the 10-year wait for Dragon Age: The Veilguard ends, RPG veteran says AAA series like GTA show how a big gap between sequels “can actually improve the impact” of each releaseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: BioWare)
FollowingBioWare’s monumental reveal ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, the lengthy wait for the beloved series' fourth entry is finally coming to a close - and there’s a good reason why the new RPG has taken so long, according to veteran lead Mark Darrah.
Speaking in his recentpodcaston AAA games and why they “take so long” to release, formerDragon Ageexecutive producer Mark Darrah explains developers' reasons for spacing launch dates so far apart. “One of the reasons why AAA games take as long as they do in some cases is simply because they can,” Darrah reveals. “They look at the market, they look at what they need to do, and they decide to prioritize having as large of an impact as possible over coming out in a timely manner.”
TheBioWarevet continues, using other iconic series' wait times likeGrand Theft Auto’s as an example: “Arguably, that’s what Rockstar does with GTA is they would rather have a game come out once every decade or longer and be a cultural phenomenon than try to reduce that time and potentially reduce their impact.” Darrah states that in many cases with “successful” franchises, “a long wait time between games” may “actually improve the impact of the future game.”
Why Do AAA Games Take So Long? - YouTubeWatch On
Why Do AAA Games Take So Long? - YouTube
Why Do AAA Games Take So Long? - YouTube
Darrah explains that these “external reasons why having your games be fairly far apart can be a good idea.” He also says that despite allowing for “some freshness within the AAA space,” more frequent AA and indie releases are another possible reason behind delays: “If you are a AAA game and you’re moving fairly slowly and an AA game comes along and is a disruptor, what it might cause is you to have to iterate yet again and introduce even more delays into your development.”
Ultimately, “there are lots of reasons why AAA games take a long time” as Darrah concludes - “some of which make sense, some of which make sense if you sit in the C-suite, some of which honestly don’t make a ton of sense but are sort of built-in at this point almost due to expectations of the team, but also expectations from players that teams are scared of upsetting.”
Dragon Age: The Veilguard leads reveal that BioWare changed the RPG’s name to “what was really the heartbeat of this game” - and it’s not Solas
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More about dragon age
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Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s big bad isn’t bald due to hereditary hair loss, his age, or a stylistic choice: “Solas lost hair because of stress”
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s big bad isn’t bald due to hereditary hair loss, his age, or a stylistic choice: “Solas lost hair because of stress”
Dragon Age: The Veilguard directors say they would’ve loved to explore “what lies beyond the sea” and add new classes in the DLC we’re never getting
Dragon Age: The Veilguard directors say they would’ve loved to explore “what lies beyond the sea” and add new classes in the DLC we’re never getting
Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►
Latest
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”