In a new tweet, Xbox Game Pass announced that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is coming to their service with the tweet, “The Veilguard needs you 🫵 (yes you).” However, the reactions from gamers don’t look very encouraging. Honestly, where gamers were hoping for excitement, the reactions seem to be the complete opposite.
Allow me to explain the situation. The most recent installment in BioWare’s Dragon Age games, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, comes with its share of digital drama. The game has a stream of lukewarm reviews, an unsatisfactory level of sales, and mixed public opinion. At this point, the most logical explanation for the game’s mediocre performance, and for the game being available on Game Pass soon after launch, is its weak performance. These reasons seem logical given the responses to the announcement which indicate users are not impressed, not even if the game is free on Game Pass.
In an attempt to announce the release of the game on the service, the Xbox Game Pass PC account tweeted the announcement. However, attempting to analyze the replies felt like watching a slow motion train wreck. The most straightforward reply to express dislike came from @DXBNIN, who said “Sorry Game Pass but I’ll Pass,” which quite well summarizes the tone of most reactions. For stronger reactions, @AYNE1796 made use of the timeless “Fuck outtttaaaa heeeeeeeeere.”
Even more remarkable is the number of people who are ignoring the game, even though it is “free” with a Game Pass subscription. @clumsyninja1989 stated “I don’t need it” and @GChapman00 wrote, “The only way I’d ever play this game ngl (even then I probably still won’t).” This is an entirely new level of avoidance to a game with no additional charge.
It appears, the complaints fall into a bucket or two. Some feel that it is genuinely badly executed- @ThatOneScxt called it “straight garbage” and @TheGaaaameeerr said “this slop deserves to rot.” There’s a group less fond of the game’s… let’s say evolved sensibilities. @DeepMind0079 branded it “woke garbage,” and @Luskador cited “its pronouns” as a reason to not touch it.
With the marketing mess and the journalist defense, @RealHypnotic1 brings a nice angle to the story. “Remember guys. They called the game a success multiple times, journalists told you that you were wrong if you said it wasn’t true, and called you anything from ‘chud’ to ‘transphobe.’ Now they’ve resorted to giving away this trash for free nonstop for months on multiple different platforms. Common gamer W.”
Oh yes, the Game Pass issue. The sentiment from players in the Microsoft circles focusing games for subscription tends bluntly pessimistic. This is more than a few funny voices — the likes of Apple’s tweet ratio is oddly brutal, with approximately 95% of the responses being “no thanks” variations.
Some are actually hilarious. “Double it and give it to the next person boss” from @1oowiM might be the best way to say you dont want something. “They need some milk” by @AziliaTheGreat is just random but kind of perfect. And @speedor123 called themselves “non-play-nary” which is new one for me.
There were a few people who even enjoyed the game. @TMC602711 wrote “I thought the game was good… worth a playthru” so it doesn’t seem to be universally hated for sure. But based on this sample size, it seems they are definitely in the minority.
This situation honestly feels like when other games that flopped usually ended up on Game Pass super fast. Usually, it’s the publisher wanting to cut losses with some guaranteed money from Microsoft — maybe with a bit of goodwill. But the anger in this situation seems too intense for the game even Game Pass try to help.
The way so many have said they’d not play even if paid is interesting. “you’d have to pay me to play this shit game” in @DavidHarman31’s comment and going further with, “No matter how much money you pay me I’m not even going to download this shit excuse of a ‘lecture’ about pretend people who you cared more for than the majority of real gamers” from @Vaderian88 is some serious commitment to not playing a game.
Then there’s @ScrewyRaven, who wrote, “There are some games even gamepass won’t make me play,” accompanied by a skull emoji. That might be one of the most accurate takes on this whole situation. For the most part, Game Pass is known as fantastic value, inspiring people to try games they wouldn’t otherwise purchase. But in this case, it seems Dragon Age: The Veilguard has crossed a line that not even free could fix.
The whole thing makes me think about what’s next for this franchise. The series was well-regarded a few years ago, especially Ceremonial Dragon Origin, which quite a few people noted they would like to replay. @TheElusiveEye1 wrote, “I will replay Dragon Age Origins, though, as it’s easily the best RPG BioWare ever made and the only game in the series as far as I’m concerned.” That’s a painful statement.
Now, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is in Game Pass if you want to give it a try. But judging from the feedback received from the announcement, most gamers would rather be playing anything else. It’s alarming the community has almost no response to the direction BioWare is moving. BioWare used to have higher fan and community support, but it is diminishing quickly. The franchise is sinking, and gamers do not seem to care. The only chance BioWare has of salvaging support is by learning the lessons from this, although it might be the “new normal.” Either way, the Veilguard is in desperate need of players; however, players by all means do not want the Veilguard.
