Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the first triple-A game to handle gender identity the right way

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Originally published on October 29, 2024.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the character creation process kicks off with an exceptionally diverse set-up. Beyond the myriad conventional combinations for your protagonist, Rook, this game offers the unique opportunity to create a nonbinary or transgender character. The game provides options like top surgery scars, preferred pronouns (they/them), and customization tools to sculpt your character’s appearance according to your preference. This includes adjusting features such as muscles, buttocks, chest, and more with precise control, a feature that is just one aspect of the game’s commendable approach towards gender identity. To date, Dragon Age: The Veilguard stands out among triple-A games for its thoughtful handling of this topic.

In this game, characters who identify as transgender or nonbinary receive extra dialogue options in relevant conversations, providing authentic insights based on real-life experiences. These additions aren’t forced into every conversation but are used strategically where they fit best. The way these additional lines are delivered is remarkable for a triple-A game, showing a great deal of sensitivity and finesse. Most of these extra choices become significant during Taash’s personal questline – the Veilguard’s dragon-slaying Qunari character.

In another phrasing: Taash, born to a strict Qunari mother and raised in Rivain, finds himself straddling two distinct worlds. His unique ability to breathe fire has kept him isolated for years, which further complicates his sense of identity. When the Veilguard requires a dragon hunter, he joins their team. Over time, Taash recognizes that neither male nor female identities resonate with him; instead, he discovers that he is nonbinary – a term he learns from his fellow team members.

The remainder of Taash’s journey is a blend of dragon-slaying adventures and revealing Qunari mysteries, yet running beneath it all is their struggle with this revelation. Throughout the story, we witness Taash fretting over the intersection of their nonbinary identity with their dual cultures, choosing appropriate pronouns for themselves, and the team’s perception of it. Above everything else, however, they are most concerned about how their mother will react to this news.

In the game, you’ll find notes penned by Taash, who is grappling with these complex feelings. Interacting with various trans and nonbinary characters in the game leads to Taash jotting down their insights about what it means to be trans or nonbinary. This idea might be unfamiliar to Qunari and Rivainian culture and belief systems, but despite understanding their own feelings, there’s still much to discover. The note concludes with a heartwarming message: another character validates Taash’s feelings, emphasizing that they are valid regardless of what others think, and no matter when the words to express those feelings were learned.

This passage is about a heartfelt note that moved the author, as they could relate to Taash’s situation, having their own complex feelings towards gender. They found solace when they discovered terms to express these emotions, but life became more intricate due to the newfound knowledge and self-discovery. The journey was challenging, with many questions left unanswered, until friends and loved ones offered support. This theme is mirrored in ‘The Veilguard’, as Taash’s companions help them through their struggles. The author finds the narrative authentic, messy, raw, and believes it was written by someone who identifies as nonbinary.

The note struck a chord with me because I’ve been in a similar situation as Taash – grappling with complex gender issues. When I found words to describe my feelings, it felt liberating, but also complicated, as there was much to learn and process. Friends and loved ones were instrumental in helping me navigate this journey, just like in ‘The Veilguard’, where Taash’s friends offer the same support. The story is honest, chaotic, emotional, and I have no doubt it was penned by a nonbinary author.

Another piece of writing reveals Taash brainstorming a conversation to inform their traditionally religious mother about their nonbinary identity. They mull over several options, ruling out each one as something she might not accept. Eventually, they decide on a straightforward method: they’ll express it directly in the final draft.

“I’m nonbinary. It means I am not a man or a woman. I use ‘they’ instead of ‘she’ now.” 

The details of that discussion won’t be revealed, but it’s an impactful, sad scene that resonates with many queer individuals. This is just one of several such moments in Taash’s narrative. What makes this unique is the opportunity for someone with personal trans or nonbinary experiences to intervene and provide counsel and direction. Essentially, you get to play the role of a seasoned queer mentor that every young queer person aspires to have, offering guidance when everything seems confusing inside.

The specifics of what happens in that talk are not shown, but it’s an emotional and significant scene for many LGBTQ+ individuals. This is just one example among several in Taash’s journey. The fact that someone with lived trans or nonbinary experiences can step in and offer advice and direction is a special aspect. In essence, you get to be the wise queer guide that every young queer person wishes for when they feel lost.

In this tale, the narrative is heartfelt, articulately presented, and unrestricted, which is unusually refreshing for an AAA game. Previously, BioWare has delved into queer narratives, including those found within Dragon Age – Dorian’s journey as a gay character in Inquisition serves as a notable example. However, The Veilguard takes it a step further by courageously and confidently presenting one of its key characters as nonbinary and crafting a story that isn’t afraid to deliver powerful messages.

While The Veilguard makes significant strides in representing various aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s important to note that it doesn’t get everything right. Unlike its predecessors like Inquisition, not all romanceable characters can be pursued by players regardless of their gender identity. This could be seen as a minor setback compared to the previous games. For instance, a storyline like Dorian’s wouldn’t fit in The Veilguard, and while Taash provides an engaging alternative, it’s disappointing that no character is explicitly gay or lesbian within the game. Instead, they are open to any interpretation by the player.

In essence, BioWare isn’t solely responsible for the predicament either, given their character creator offers intricate options regarding gender identity. This necessitates some challenging queries about how to manage sexuality in the game. For instance, would it be logical for a homosexual man to develop feelings for a gender-fluid character who presents femininely? Such scenarios are common in reality, but making every gay character attracted to every nonbinary character might seem overly simplistic and unrealistic within this gaming context. Consequently, an imperfect yet workable solution arises from the challenge of handling such a desirable issue. In simpler terms, the game does exceptionally well at addressing gender identity, but it may not excel in all other aspects due to these complexities.

Despite some minor issues, the way Taash is managed in the game and the variety of options given to players to express their characters’ identities in-game makes even the smallest criticisms seem insignificant. Breaking new ground after years of AAA game development, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the first to successfully tackle gender identity, which is a significant achievement if nothing else.

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2025-04-15 19:16