Dragon Age: Valeguard sold around 500,000 copies, despite early hype from game critics who pointed to its strong launch, noting high concurrent player counts and initial sales. Many were comparing it to a previous Dragon Age game’s Steam performance, without acknowledging that the older title took six years to arrive on Steam, while Valeguard launched on the platform from day one. This inflated comparison missed some critical issues with Valeguard that many players pointed out.
The critiques are significant and often echoed in both positive and negative reviews. The story, while serviceable, is frequently described as below average. The characters lack depth and real choice, and many moments that should feel intense instead feel subdued. It’s as if the characters are unnaturally calm, even during chaotic combat, which undercuts immersion. Meaningful choices are limited, and it sometimes feels like the characters have been dulled down.
A notable design choice is the lack of variety in character creation options, particularly for female characters. While beauty is subjective, it feels as though there’s been an active effort to remove traditional aesthetic choices that some players might enjoy. Many fans are concerned about the trend of agenda-pushing in gaming, where personal perspectives seem to overshadow fan preferences. Games, for many, are an escape from real-world issues, and this shift makes it harder for some players to immerse themselves in fantasy worlds.
It’s encouraging to see that gamers are speaking with their wallets. For all the critics who praised its early numbers, it’s clear the game hasn’t met expectations, with less than 500,000 copies sold. After a decade of development, Valeguard reportedly needed around six million sales to break even and even more to turn a profit. This highlights a growing trend in both gaming and TV (such as Disney shows) where creators prioritize personal agendas over audience desires. Fans deserve content that speaks to them, and we have every right to voice our opinions through our choices and purchases.