Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s official release date is just around the corner, and fans eager to return to Thedas can pre-load the game to return as soon as possible.
BioWare is returning to the Dragon Age universe after a decade with a new entry, The Veilguard. After announcing the game in June 2024 with a 2025 release date. However, not only will it be coming much sooner than that, some fans have the option to preload The Veilguard weeks in advance.
Here’s when to preload Dragon Age: The Veilguard and when fans can actually play it.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard pre-load dates, times vary based on platform
Pre-loading became available as early as October 14 for Xbox players, with more platforms to come later.
The Veilguard has two different preload times, or lack therof, for the three different platforms the game will launch on. Preloads allow for players to download all the full version of the game, so they can start playing right at launch time.
Pre-loads for Xbox Series X/S first came available on October 14, 2024 at 9 am PDT. PlayStation 5 owners will have to wait until October 29 at 9 am PDT, just a few days before launch.
Notably, PC players will not have the option to preload Dragon Age: The Veilguard ahead of the release date and time. BioWare stated that this is because The Veilguard will not have any third-party digital rights management systems. DRMs, particularly Denuvo, have long been criticized for not only not preventing piracy, but also restricting the use of fan-made game content. The systems may additionally cause performance issues for PC gamers.
Many fans see the lack of DRM in conjunction with native Steam integration as a major win for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. However, it comes at the expense of getting a slightly later start time than console players, since they’ll have to load everything in day of.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard official release date and launch times confirmed
BioWare announced that Dragon Age: The Veilguard will go live on October 31, 2024 at 9 am PDT.

Bioware’s reveal of the game’s Halloween release date stopped a prolonged cycle of leaks and speculation. The company eventually leaked the game’s release date itself, with the reveal trailer coming available a day before it was meant to premiere. Fans can preorder the base version of the game for $59.99 USD or choose to get the deluxe edition for $89.99. The premium version has new weapons and armor skins.
From top tier PC specs to romanceable NPCs, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is shaping up to be a major release. The game has a lot of work to do in terms of standing out in what has become a crowded turn-based RPG market.