Dragon Age Creator Responds to 'Woke' Criticism of The Veilguard

David Gaider, the creator of the Dragon Age series, has suggested that the backlash against Dragon Age: The Veilguard for being labeled "woke" stems from ignorance, referring to the critics as "tourists." His comments mark a significant response in the ongoing cultural discourse surrounding the upcoming installment of the beloved franchise.

Various online platforms, including the Steam Discussions forum for The Veilguard, have recently been inundated with negative feedback, primarily focusing on claims that the new entry is overly "woke." Many of these critiques appear to center on the game’s pansexual companions, with some players arguing that the effort to introduce diverse romance options undermines character depth. Others have expressed dissatisfaction with the game’s diverse character lineup for a variety of reasons.

Gaider Defends Inclusivity in Dragon Age

In a recent post on Bluesky, Gaider addressed the backlash by highlighting how critics seem surprised that Dragon Age is perceived as "woke," labeling their response as disingenuous. He described these individuals as "fg tourists," implying they lack a genuine understanding of the series, which has embraced inclusivity since its inception in 2009.

Gaider went on to clarify that he has no problem with people having differing opinions about the upcoming game. His intent was simply to challenge the notion that The Veilguard represents a new wave of "wokeness" within the franchise.

While the Dragon Age series has consistently embraced diversity, it predated the widespread use of the term "woke," which has since evolved into a sarcastic criticism of progressive themes. This historical context might explain why earlier installments of the series were less divisive; they were released before the current climate of online culture wars emerged.

Upcoming Release

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set to launch on October 31 for PC and current-generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Despite Gaider's recent vocal stance on the game and its reception, he did not contribute to its development, having left BioWare in 2016.