Dragon Age: The Veilguard Reveals Estimated Playtime for Completion

In a recent interview with BioWare developers, it was revealed that completing Dragon Age: The Veilguard could take players up to 100 hours. This installment marks a significant shift from previous titles, blending BioWare’s hallmark elements with new gameplay mechanics. The game focuses heavily on companion dynamics, replaces an open-world structure with mission-based hubs, and adopts a combat style reminiscent of Mass Effect 3.

Exploratory cities like Treviso and Minrathous will be central to the experience, along with expansive regions such as Arlathan Forest and Hossberg Wetlands. Players will traverse these areas through a network of Eluvians located in the Lighthouse, which acts as Rook’s base and a social hub for companions in The Veilguard. While not as vast as Dragon Age: Inquisition, the scale of this upcoming title is still quite ambitious.

In an interview with NoRRza, a BioWare developer mentioned that their recent playthrough of The Veilguard took 100 hours to finish. For perspective, a completionist run of Dragon Age: Inquisition averages around 150 hours, while Dragon Age: Origins typically takes about 90 hours. Interestingly, The Veilguard has been noted to have a minimum playtime of 40 hours for those who concentrate solely on the main storyline, aligning closely with the length of Origins.

Expect a Rich Experience in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

The wide range between 40 and 100 hours suggests that The Veilguard will include a wealth of engaging side content. While Dragon Age: Inquisition received acclaim, winning Game of the Year in 2014, its open-world design often faced criticism for feeling bloated compared to titles like Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins. Even the development team acknowledged these concerns.

As a result, Dragon Age: The Veilguard aims to deliver a more focused experience, emphasizing quality over quantity. The game will consist of three acts, with the first act expected to take the longest to complete. Alongside a rich main quest, side content will explore the six major factions and deepen the relationships with Rook’s companions.

Importantly, the choices players make as Rook will influence companion behavior, with friendship, rivalry, and romance dynamics playing a key role. For instance, a Neve who harbors negative feelings towards Rook may refrain from using her supportive abilities in combat but will receive a significant boost to her offensive spells. While the implementation of these features remains to be seen, early impressions from content creators and media outlets have been overwhelmingly positive.