Breaking: Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Resurrects Hidden DA2 Storyline, Leaving Fans Awestruck

Highlights

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's story includes the return of characters like Varric, who was almost killed off in a previous installment.

BioWare has abandoned plans for a proposed Dragon Age 2 expansion centered on Varric's demise and the upheaval in the Free Marches.

Although there is no concrete evidence of Varric's demise in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, there are compelling reasons for BioWare to contemplate such a development. Not only would it inject a greater level of emotion into the narrative, but Varric's connection to Red Lyrium suggests that his story may be drawing to a close.

Nearly nine years have passed since Dragon Age: Inquisition and almost eight years since Trespasser introduced Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Despite a few intriguing leaks earlier this year, there is still much that remains unknown to fans about the game. The next installment in the Dragon Age series has been delayed until 2024 or beyond, meaning it may be quite some time before fans are able to catch a glimpse of the highly anticipated action RPG.

Nonetheless, fans have gained some insight into the direction that BioWare is taking with the story of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. This includes the return of beloved characters, such as the dwarven rogue named Varric. Known for his adeptness with a crossbow, this fan favorite made his debut in Dragon Age 2 and is the only character to have joined the party in multiple games. However, his survival across these games does not necessarily guarantee his safety, as BioWare may resurrect a discarded plotline from DA2 involving Varric's demise.

BioWare Almost Killed Varric after Dragon Age 2

In order to discuss Varric's avoided death, it is necessary to mention Dragon Age 2's canceled Exalted March expansion. The expansion's storyline would have revolved around protagonist Hawke being caught between the Chantry and the Qunari, potentially leading to a war over the Free Marches. It would have also delved deeper into the themes of Red Lyrium and the Mage Uprising, as well as providing more information about the city-state of Starkhaven and the pirates of the Felicisima Armada.

The conclusion of Exalted March was intended to be emotionally impactful, with significant characters meeting their demise. Varric was one of those characters, although it remains unclear how his death would have been portrayed. However, fortunate for Varric's admirers, BioWare decided to abandon Exalted March in order to prioritize their work on Dragon Age: Inquisition. The development of Inquisition was proving to be challenging due to issues with the Frostbite Engine. Some concepts from Exalted March were eventually incorporated into Inquisition, while others were assigned to War Table Operations or discarded altogether.

Varric's Death in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf

Interestingly, David Gaider, the former lead writer of Dragon Age, also attempted to eliminate Varric in Inquisition. Towards the conclusion of the game, Corypheus was intended to initiate a massive assault on Skyhold, the headquarters of the Inquisition. Gaider had originally planned for Varric to meet his demise during this battle. However, BioWare apparently made the decision that implementing the battle within a reasonable timeframe would be too challenging due to the intricacies of Skyhold. As a result, the entire sequence was ultimately discarded.

It is worth noting that Varric's two near-death experiences were a result of limited resources rather than deliberate creative choices or executive interference. This suggests that BioWare may still be open to the possibility of actually killing off his character. Although David Gaider, the writer behind Varric, has since left BioWare after the release of Inquisition, it is not entirely implausible for the current writers of Dreadwolf to make the bold decision to finally bring closure to Varric's storyline. While there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the developers have intentions of doing so, there are valid arguments as to why BioWare should seriously consider it.

A prime illustration from another BioWare game can be seen in the death of Mordin in Mass Effect 3. The scene not only exhibits exceptional writing and direction but is also immensely impactful due to the player's emotional connection to the character. Furthermore, it serves as a fitting conclusion to Mordin's character development and the Genophage storyline in Mass Effect, as the Salarian scientist sacrifices himself to undo the harm he had contributed to.

In a similar vein, Bioware has the chance to recreate this kind of impactful moment with Varric in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Varric's narrative is intricately intertwined with the tale of Dragon Age's Red Lyrium. Additionally, he played a role in the inadvertent release of Coryphaeus during the events of DA2's Legacy DLC. Unlike in Mordin's case with the Genophage, it was not Varric's intention to unleash either of these forces. Nevertheless, Inquisition implies that Varric still carries a sense of responsibility for his actions.

Red Lyrium's significance in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has been hinted at in previous teasers, suggesting that the upcoming game may finally delve deeper into this storyline. Should this be the case, it is plausible to expect Varric's character arc to conclude in a manner reminiscent of Mordin's. Currently, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.