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In between all the fights and missions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook and their team have a place to call their own to relax and strategize called the Lighthouse. This large space, located in the Fade safely away from the Evanuris and their allies, has rooms for each companion as well as communal areas. And like all good RPG bases, the Lighthouse can be customized with six themes available for purchase that reflect the different locations and factions within The Veilguard.

The Lighthouse once belonged to Solas, and the hub will open up and change as the story progresses, allowing everyone to have a space to make their own. There are several secret Lighthouse areas to unlock with hidden rooms and puzzles for Rook to solve to get loot. Most Lighthouse themes can be bought from faction merchants at shop rank three and can be changed via a podium...

An expert breaks down House of the Dragon season 2's major battle scene. The sophomore season of the Game of Thrones spinoff series raised the drama once again as Alicent's son Aegon rose to power to be king. While a war-like battle between various Targaryen groups was hinted for the entire season, the biggest battle erupts in season 2, episode 4, "The Red Dragon and the Gold." This episode sees Aegon's brother, Aemond, targets the king with dragonfire, giving him life-treatening wounds.

Speaking with Insider, military historian Roel Konijnendijk provides his interpretation of a key House of the Dragon scene's accuracy. The historian had a lot of good things to say about season 2's Rook's Rest sequence, complimenting the army's positioning and the use of the king on the front lines. He took greater issue, however, with how House of the Dragon depicted archers "shoot[ing] in volleys." While Konijnendijk admitted this...

While Dragon Age: The Veilguard introduces lots of great new characters to Thedas, there are also plenty of well-loved characters who return for the series' fourth installment. The first member of Rook's team, met during the game's introduction sequence, is Lace Harding, who previously appeared in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a scout for the organization. Harding has a fantastic personal quest in The Veilguard, which delves deep into dwarven lore and the idea of forgiveness and compassion.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

Each of Rook's companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard have quests that play out over the course of the game and usually involve personal issues that they need help with. These questlines not only offer insight into the different characters of the team but also unlock the Hero of the Veilguard status when completed. This status is important as it unlocks new armor and skills for each companion as well as guarantees...

Alien: Romulus made several new additions to the Alien franchise's lore, but Fede Álvarez's movie also represented a thematic and narrative return to the very first movie in the series. While the film's design and story clearly harkened back to Ridley Scott's 1979 original, one of Romulus' biggest surprises involved recreating key Alien cast member, Ian Holm, for a central role in the 2024 sequel. Given Holm's passing in 2020, his appearance was simultaneously unexpected and an impressive technical feat.

While Holm's likeness was not used to bring his original character, Ash, back, his performance helped fulfill a similar criteria in the story. As science officer Rook, Holm was both an eerie reminder of the untrustworthy nature of Alien synthetics and a direct callback to one of the franchise's most iconic villains. His presence undoubtedly helped Alien: Romulus evoke the sense of nostalgia that Álvarez was obviously striving for. However,...

Dragon Age has always been famous for its variety of companions and Dragon Age: The Veilguard is no exception, with seven characters joining Rook on their quest to save Thedas. However, there were some familiar faces from previous titles that people understandably expected to see, either as companions or as cameos. While some of these absences make sense, there are others that seem like a missed opportunity.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has plenty of cameos with a plethora of characters returning from previous games, books, and comics. From previous companions such as Morrigan and Dorian to minor characters who have been expanded on, such as Harding, Evka, and Antoine, The Veilguard has lots of pre-established characters from throughout the series to make the world feel more connected. However, there are a few great characters that would have tied in well with the setting and plot that are unfortunately missing.

Velanna...

In keeping with Dragon Age tradition, Rook is joined in Dragon Age: The Veilguard by a team of companions to help them on their quest to save Thedas. One companion who joins the group early is a talented assassin from the famed Antivan Crows, Lucanis Dellamorte, known as the Demon of Vyrantium, who specializes in taking down mages. However, from the very beginning of his journey with Rook, Lucanis will need help with personal demons and family matters.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

Every companion quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers something different, as each member of Rook's team battles against elements from their past. Unlike companion quests in previous Dragon Age games, the ones in The Veilguard are especially important as they unlock Hero of the Veilguard status, which directly impacts which ending of the game happens, as well as who lives or dies. The end of each questline also unlocks unique armor...

Anya Taylor-Joy is set to star in a new action thriller film on Apple TV+ called The Gorge, and the trailer offers a brief but perfect callback to her earlier streaming role for Netflix. Taylor-Joy's star has risen exponentially in Hollywood in the last decade, as the young actress has delivered outstanding performances and earned leading roles in a variety of projects on the big and small screen. And while her first credited roles were released just 10 years ago, Taylor-Joy's talent has launched her to new heights.

And in The Gorge, she will literally climb to new heights as an expert sniper hired to guard a mysterious canyon. While this movie appears to be much more action heavy than many of her previous roles, excluding Furiosa, the trailer delivers a nod to a former role with beautiful simplicity. But whether that means the former part will have any more influence...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard sees you recruit many companions, whose Bond Levels can improve when you give them gifts from various locations around the regions you explore. Giving someone a gift deepens Rook's relationship with them, allowing greater insight into their character and making them perform better in battle. Those looking to initiate romance will also make great progress by giving a companion their favorite gift.

No matter what companion party combos you use in Da: The Veilguard, you'll want to increase everyone's Bond Levels to unlock more companion skill points. This can help give companions new abilities to help your party in tough combat situations. Improving a relationship with a certain character could also unlock unique side quests tied to them, giving you a chance to learn about who they are.

Where To Find Every Companion Gift In Dragon Age: The Veilguard Search Specific Areas Unlocked Through The...

Much of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's central conflict revolves around two mysterious figures called Ghilan'nain and Elgar'nan. Introduced as elven gods, the truth behind their origins and intentions is actually far more complex. While it's explained in part though the natural exposition of The Veilguard's story, their full background remains somewhat obscure, and requires at least a little knowledge of prior Dragon Age games to understand fully.

Ghilan'nain and Elgar'nan are introduced during the very first quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, when Rook, Neve, Harding, and Varric attempt to stop Solas, himself a member of the Evanuris, from performing a ritual involving the two. They succeed in stopping him, but Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain are unleashed regardless, going on to wreak havoc throughout the world. With Varric out of commission, it falls to Rook to stop them - but first, they must understand exactly who these two mysterious figures are.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a variety of enemies and creatures unique to the setting. Out of the six unique backgrounds available for Rook, each comes with the ability to do increased damage to a specific enemy. Arguably the most iconic foe is the Darkspawn, one of the earliest enemies encountered in the game.

The Darkspawn have different designs compared to their appearances in the last three games - many fans have expressed disappointment at this, though their lore in The Veilguard may actually explain the changes. However, for many new players, this will be their first ever exposure to them. So, who are the Darkspawn in the Dragon Age series?

Who The Darkspawn Are, According To Dragon Age Lore One Of The Biggest Threats To Thedas

The Darkspawn are recurring enemies in the Dragon Age franchise. Rook can do extra damage to them if the player chooses the Grey Wardens background.

As new and longtime fans dive back into the world of Thedas and immerse themselves in the plot of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, some will no doubt be keeping an eye out for any familiar faces. With this being the fourth installment in the series, expectations are high for characters from past games and other Dragon Age media to appear, and The Veilguard doesn't disappoint. Continuing a series tradition started in Dragon Age 2, there are several characters from throughout the franchise for Rook to meet.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

Dragon Age has a long history of including characters from previous games and the wider franchise to make the world feel more connected and real. From Nathaniel Howe and Alistair visiting Kirkwall to Fiona and Loghain helping the Inquisitor, Dragon Age has always brought back fan favorites alongside more niche characters, folding them cleverly into the plot. So whether leisurely exploring Thedas or rushing to...

The first patch for Dragon Age: The Veilguard is officially out. Though it has barely been a week since its release, the developers at BioWare have been vigilant in amending issues noted by players in the otherwise engaging fantasy action RPG journey. This first update is a small one, as is to be expected so early on in the game's life, yet it is still a very welcome update.

This patch comes with a new item that can be equipped by Rook in the early game, along with several small changes and fixes to improve the player's experience overall. Lots of these fixes include general tweaks to animation and eliminating glitches stopping the game from functioning as intended. The update also demonstrates BioWare's appreciation of its entire fan base, including players of Veilguard and the studio's other titles. Here's what is new in BioWare's fourth Dragon Age game.

New Armor...

At certain pivotal moments in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, certain companions can enter a Hardened state that affects their affinities and abilities, potentially throughout the remainder of the game. The Veilguard is all about relationships with companions; players can complete quests for, grow closer to, and potentially romance their Dragon Age party members. However, it's not all honeyed words and acts of service. It's just as easy to make the wrong decision at a crucial juncture, upsetting a companion and cutting a budding romance short.

Returning from Dragon Age: Inquisition, the Hardened status effect changes a character's role, demeanor, and relationship with Rook, but it's not all bad, either. There are certain benefits to the status effect that, while not absolutely necessary to beating The Veilguard, can be very helpful. Either way, at least some degree of Hardening is inevitable regardless of the player's choices, so it's important to understand...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched to a plethora of positive reviews, something that was likely unexpected for Bioware skeptics. The developer has been in hot water since the release of Anthem, with many fans feeling it had lost its magic. Luckily, The Veilguard proved them wrong and served as proof that Bioware is back, and hopefully for good. However, what may have shocked some players is that Bioware is already done with The Veilguard, and intends to move on from it as quickly as possible.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard will not be receiving any Dlc at all, something that will be disappointing to those already burned by the game's controversial New Game Plus decision. It became the norm for giant single-player RPGs with triple-figure runtimes to have some form of Dlc, with The Witcher 3 ultimately becoming the poster child for how to do Dlc well. However, not only is the...

Michael Fassbender's David might not be in Alien: Romulus, but the film's android characters made his fate more confusing. Fassbender starred in Ridley Scott's two Alien prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, as the synthetic/android known as David 8. He was at the center of the planned trilogy, but the cancelation of the third installment meant his story was never concluded. This left a major question heading into Alien: Romulus regarding what happened to David in the franchise. There was even some hope Fede lvarez's movie would share some new information on his fate and place in the franchise.

Instead of bringing Fassbender back as David or another model of the android, like how Alien: Covenant also included Walter, Alien: Romulus included two other androids. David Jonnson's Andy was introduced as a new synthetic who acted as Rain's brother and protector. Then, there was Rook, built to...

Quick ViewHow to Romance Neve Gallus in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?How to Increase Neve Gallus’ Approval?Neve Gallus’ Personal Quests to CompleteNeve Gallus’ Commitment Conversation

Want to know how to romance Neve Gallus in Dragon Age: The Veilguard? She’s one of the first Companions you’ll meet in the game, but unlocking that romance route is not something you can just strut into.

Don’t worry, though. Our Neve Gallus romance guide has all the tips required to woo this detective successfully.

No matter your race or gender, Neve’s heart is yours for the taking, as long as you play it right. And, thankfully, it’s pretty hard to mess this up permanently.

How to Romance Neve Gallus in Dragon Age: The Veilguard? The romance between Rook and Neve Gallus is flirty, heartfelt, and fun.

The romance steps Neve Gallus needs can be summed up in one...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the newest installment in the Dragon Age series, an action-oriented RPG franchise that's known for its rich decision-making and character creation. was released on October 31st of 2024. Following in the wake of the other three games Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition Dragon Age: The Veilguard tells the story of the player character Rook going on a journey to stop Solas from tearing the Veil. Like in previous installments, the player can pick up companions, romance said companions, and have heartwarming or intense dialogues with them.

The last time BioWare released a Dragon Age game was in 2014 with Dragon Age: Inquisition, which garnered popularity for its gameplay and story. While The Veilguard is a separate game on its own it's not necessary to play other installments to understand this one all Dragon Age games carry the same features. However, after a decade of production,...

Alien: Romulus is heading to streaming. The latest installment in the long-running sci-fi franchise is set to debut on Hulu before the end of November.

Per Deadline, Alien: Romulus will hit Hulu on Nov. 21, exactly 98 days after the movie opened in theaters. The movie, which is set 20 years after the original Alien movie and follows a group of young colonizers who come face-to-face with the worst life form while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, has been available to rent or own on digital since Oct. 15. Roughly two weeks after its Hulu debut, Romulus will arrive on Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS on Dec. 3, giving Alien fans plenty of ways to watch the acclaimed sci-fi movie.

Related The New Alien TV Show Is Recycling An Old Idea From Alien 3

The upcoming television series Alien: Earth will bring the xenomorphs to Earth--but this isn't the first time the Alien franchise tried this idea.

Companions have always played a large part in BioWare games, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard continues this with seven fascinating companions to meet and recruit. Chatting and getting to know companions still form a large part of the narrative and can often inform roleplay decisions. However, gone are the days of exhausting dialogue options every time the team is at their base, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a clever new solution to companion talks.

The latest installment in the franchise has a fantastic range of companions that also serve as the romance options for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Each has a rich backstory, likes and dislikes, and companion-specific quests to further their own narratives within the epic story of ancient elven gods and the end of the world. And thankfully, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has taken any confusion or hassle out of becoming more acquainted with Rooks new allies...

Quick Links How To Remake The Inquisitor You Will Need To Manually Remake Them Inquisitor Race, Gender, And Voice How The Inquisitor Impacts Veilguard's Story Certain Choices Change Plot Elements Past Romance Options State Of The Inquisition Relationship With Solas

The Inquisitor returns as a major Npc in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They were the main characters of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and their previous choices impacted the narrative. This can help drive the motivations of Rook, Harding, and Varric as they begin their quest. It can even alter some aspects of the ending, especially regarding the Inquisitors relationship with the main antagonist, Solas. Did they part as enemies, friends, or even lovers?

While the Inquisitors history has some impact on the story, Rook is still the star of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. While you will be venturing with Rook constantly, the Inquisitor will weave in and out of the narrative.

Quick Links Best Spellblade Build For a Mage Rook Fire Meets Lightning Best Party For a Mage Build Create Powerful Combos with Multiple Companions Other Good Mage Builds Endless Combinations to Try

Mages are powerful spellcasters tapping into the Fade for their abilities in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. With the deep customization options available, players can build their Mage Rook for various playstyles. Mages in Dragon Age: The Veilguard do not necessarily start as strong as their Rogue or Warrior counterparts. However, their combat prowess grows as the story progresses, making them a rewarding choice over time. They are also incredibly effective both at range and in melee combat, with tons of versatility in their kits.

There are three available Mage Specializations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, unlocked at Level 20. These are Death Caller, Evoker, and Spellblade. Only one Specialization can be selected at a time. There are near-endless combinations...

During the final chapters of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook and their allies will finally catch up to the rampaging elven goddess Ghilan'nain, and prepare to end her reign of terror over Thedas once and for all. Before they can do that, however, they'll have to take out Elgar'nan's gamut of blood magic wards that protect the elven goddess from their advance. Rook can choose who goes forward to dismantle the wards from two of their friends, companions, and romance options in The Veilguard: either the elf mage Bellara, or the human mage Neve.

[Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

This is the second major decision players make during the late-game quest "Isle of Gods," after choosing whether Harding or Davrin should lead the distraction party. The results of this choice aren't quite so devastating, but they're still important to the player's strategy in the final hours of the game, and should certainly not be taken lightly.

Quick Links Where To Find Faction Merchants Visit Faction Bases Across Thedas How to Upgrade Faction Merchants Increase Faction Strength

Factions play a major role in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but Rook will need to gain reputation with them to increase their strength and get the most out of these tenuous alliances. There are six factions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and players get to choose which one their Rook belongs to. These are Grey Wardens, Veil Jumpers, Shadow Dragons, Antivan Crows, Mourn Watch, and Lords of Fortune. Each faction hails from a different region in northern Thedas that Rook can explore. Here, they will complete the majority of side quests and companion quests.

Each faction in Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a base in their region where players will land upon fast traveling. These often contain an Eluvian and a fast travel point for easy access from the Crossroads or the World Map,...

Along with the lore, thrilling combat, and epic plots, one of the big draws of Dragon Age games has always been their romance options, and thankfully, Dragon Age: The Veilguard keeps that tradition. Amid chasing ancient Elven gods and the politics of Thedas, Rook will be able to find time for love from within their new group of friends. However, with other RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 offering the choice of polyamorous relationships, many are wondering if Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be offering it as an option as well.

On their mission to save Thedas, Rook is joined by seven companions, all of which are romance options in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Each companion has an interesting personality and a unique outlook on the world, offering something different no matter what type of Rook is being roleplayed. And as one might expect from a BioWare game, there is plenty of...

Quick Links How Etheric Remants Work In Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Go-To Currency Of The Crossroads Tips For Finding Etheric Remnants Go Straight To The Source

The world of Dragon Age: The Veilguard is packed with different items you can acquire: valuables to sell for gold and increased faction standing, weapons and armor to upgrade, cosmetics to try on, decorations to customize the Lighthouse, and so much more. While gold is the main currency in Thedas, you'll encounter merchants in the game, like those in the Crossroads, who do not accept gold as payment.

Etheric Remnants are another currency in the game, and you'll need to purchase items from some merchants and fully upgrade your gear with the Caretaker at the Lighthouse. Lucky for Rook and the gang, Etheric Remnants are not too hard to find as long as you know where to look.

Related 10 Essential Beginner Tips For...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard connects the classic stories of the franchise with a more animated style and an intriguing new story with plenty of choices to be made. This installation of the franchise follows the player character, Rook, on their journey across Thedas while they deal with a couple of ancient gods, Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain, that have escaped their prison of darkness. It is the player's job to protect the world once again and become the ultimate defender of the realm, The Veilguard.

While there are many choices to be made, one of the seemingly most important choices to be made is confronting Solas, the Elven mage who was previously a companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Depending on which path players choose to follow with Varric, another returning character from earlier games, they witness the destruction of relationships and beliefs about the world in seconds. One of the primary story quests,...

Quick Links Where To Find The First Pair of Statues Begin Behind Bellara's and Neve's Rooms Where To Find The Second Pair of Statues Move to the Balcony and Outside Lucanis' Room Where To Find The Third Pair of Statues Continue to the Center of the Balcony How To Unlock The Passage in the Music Room Recruit Emmerich to Complete the Puzzle Rewards For Unlocking The Library Passage Grab Loot, a Discount, and An Achievement

There's a secret passage to the Library Balcony in Dragon Age: The Veilguard that Rook can unlock by completing a statue puzzle around the Lighthouse. Like other games in the series, Veilguard is full of secrets and puzzles for players to discover, starting almost immediately when Rook enters the Lighthouse ahead of the second main story quest. Next to one of the rounded library walls, they can read a note that gives them...

One of the most pivotal decisions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard comes during the main quest "Isle of Gods." In this quest, Rook and their allies have finally tracked down the elven goddess Ghilan'nain, and are prepared to defeat her once and for all. However, rather than rush in directly and risk their own lives, Rook and company decide instead to split into two units. One will distract Ghilan'nain's forces; the other will confront the goddess herself. It falls to Rook to choose who will lead the distraction team, while the rest of their allies will fight alongside them.

[Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, especially the quest "Isle of Gods."]

Rook's two choices are Harding and Davrin, two of their companions, friends, and romance options in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Whomever they choose will split off from the party temporarily, as they lead the distraction force - and the consequences don't end there. Here's everything the choice between Harding and Davrin...

As with past BioWare RPGs, Dragon Age: The Veilguard places a heavy emphasis on the consequences of player choices, and the game oftens put players in a situation where they have to decide one way or another. These choices are provide an opportunity to roleplay and decide the nature of a character, but they can often also have gameplay and story repercussions that come into play later on, sometimes even impacting the main story in major ways. Finally, these decisions can determine how companions feel about the player character, as they will approve or disapprove of certain choices.

One such decision in Veilguard is in the main story quest "Shadows Crossing" near the start of the game, serving as one of the first moments where Rook is asked to make a moral decision. The quest centers around the small village of D'Meta's Crossing, which has been destroyed by Blight, killing...

Quick Links How To Refund Skill Points Refund All or Individual Skill Points How To Respec a Rook Choose a New Build Best Time To Respec a Rook Some Times Are Better Than Others

It is possible to change builds and respec Rook for free while playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard, meaning players can experiment with various skills and passive abilities to find what they like. Combat in Dragon Age: The Veilguard works somewhat differently from the other games in the series, leaning more into contemporary action RPG elements like dodging and parrying and issuing commands to companions like in Mass Effect. Players can still choose to make their rook a Warrior, Rogue, or Mage, and they will have access to three unique specializations for each class.

Though it is not possible to change classes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard once players select one during character creation, it is always...

The latest installment of Dragon Age has finally hit the store shelves and the gaming community is eager to see what Bioware has been working on for the past decade. While there is no definite answer to how long the campaign is, it greatly depends on how a player navigates the world of Thedas.

Players can spend hours accomplishing different side content or shift their focus towards the main campaign. The amount of content the game developers added to the sequel will convince returning players to explore new areas and live in the moment rather than rushing through the story.

How Long Is the Dragon Age Sequel? Players can spend as much time as they want in the game and get the full experience of The Veilguard.

While the previous game had a modest length of 51 hours to complete including all optional content, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is expected to...

As a not-quite-open-world RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is told entirely through quests. Its story is made up of a series of (mostly) linear quests that take players to various corners of the Dragon Age map. In between, players can spend time getting to know their traveling companions in a series of companion quests, or simply helping locals and factions with shorter, less earth-shattering side quests. Very little the player does will not involve questing in some way, shape, or form, so understanding which quests are available is vital to getting the full Veilguard experience.

But of course, some quests are easier to come by than others. While story quests will naturally unfold in a regular, linear fashion, some side quests have to be sniffed out. Still others are time-limited, and will disappear for good once the player has progressed the story past a particular point. Therefore, for anyone trying to obtain 100% completion,...

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This post contains major spoilers for Marvel's "Alien: Romulus" #1.

Director Fede Álvarez brought the "Alien" franchise back to life with this year's "Alien: Romulus." It was the first entry in the franchise in seven years following the commercial disappointment that was Ridley Scott's "Alien: Covenant" in 2017. But Álvarez didn't shy away from touching on Scott's prequels in his film, nor did he shy away from making direct connections to Scott's original 1979 horror/sci-fi masterpiece "Alien." Now, a new comic that serves as a prequel to Álvarez's film makes even more connections to Scott's '70s classic, shining a light on the fate of the first Xenomorph that terrorized the crew of the Nostromo.

Marvel's "Alien: Romulus" #1, written by Zac Thompson and illustrated by Daniel Picciotto, serves as a direct prequel to the events of the film of the same name.

BioWare has one of the most enduring legacies in video games, crafting some of the most influential RPGs of all time — from Baldur’s Gate (1998) to Mass Effect (2007). But somewhere over the years, the developer lost its way.

The extremely negative reception to their most recent games, Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017) and Anthem (2019), tarnished the developer that was once seen as one of the most beloved in the industry. That legacy has raised some important questions about the future of BioWare, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard (out Oct. 31) feels like the...

Despite being the fourth entry in the series, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is surprisingly approachable for new players, while still providing plenty to get excited about for those of us who have long held a fascination with the lore in this expansive universe. Developed by BioWare and published by EA, the single-player fantasy RPG offers everyone a chance to spend many hours as a hero in the world of Thedas. Dragon Age has always been known for having strong characters, whether a companion with a full story arc of their own, or simply a blacksmith in one of the towns. Happily, The Veilguard continues to provide this deeply immersive quality.

The Dragon Age franchise has a rich history for those who wish to dig deep into it all, and yet Thedas still feels just as welcoming to new players in The Veilguard. The main narrative picks up ten years after the events of Inquisition,...

When Alien: Romulus hit multiplex screens this summer, it raised a handful of questions. Some of the more burning queries included: “Who is the father of Kay’s baby?” (to which the answer is resoundingly grim), “Is Rain’s dream home of Yvaga all it’s cracked up to be?” and “Who, of sound body & mind, would rubber stamp that ghoulish deepfake of Ian Holm?”

What’s less likely to have kept you up at night, however, is the missing time that bridges the film’s prologue — in which Weyland-Yutani recovers the original Xenomorph from Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic — and its narrative proper. After all, we already know: A) that the corporation sent out a probe with the express purpose of tracking down the so-called “perfect organism”; B) that they proceeded to conduct experiments with its DNA; and C) that by the time the Corbelan crew arrives at Renaissance Station,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Alien: Romulus #1! The Xenomorph was introduced in the original 1979 Alien film, and even to this day, 45 years later, the creature is just as iconic. However, just because the Alien franchise and its titular monster have stood the test of time, doesnt mean everything about the Xenomorphs debut was perfect, including and especially one glaring mistake in particular. Thankfully, the latest addition to the Alien franchise has corrected this mistake.

In Alien: Romulus #1 by Zac Thompson and Daniel Picciotto, fans are shown exactly how Big Chap decimated Renaissance Station, effectively allowing Aliens original Xenomorph to have one final murder-fest before being retired forever. The comic picks up right after the Renaissance crew brings the cocooned Xenomorph on board, detailing how rogue security guards free it from stasis to kill it, only to unintentionally unleash it upon the entire crew.

This official prequel comic also goes deeper into...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Alien: Romulus #1! Since the Xenomorph was first introduced in 1979s Alien, the creature has remained a mystery. A truly terrifying example of cosmic horror, the Xenomorph is a twisted perversion of life itself, a parasite that requires death to reproduce, only to bring about even more pain and suffering once matured. And the scariest part? No one knows the species history. At least, until now, as Alien may have finally revealed the ancient history of the Xenomorph.

In Alien: Romulus #1 by Zac Thompson and Daniel Picciotto (the official comic book prequel to the 2024 film), fans are shown exactly what happened to the crew of Renaissance Station. As shown in the movie, this Weyland-Yutani science outpost retrieved the Xenomorph Ripley launched into space at the end of the 1979 film (a Xenomorph widely referred to as Big Chap). This comic picks up right after that moment, and its...

Alien: Romulus' Rook resembles the original legacy character Ash for a very particular reason. The new 2024 movie, which was directed by Fede lvarez, takes place between the events of the original Ridley Scott science fiction horror classic Alien (1979) and its 1986 James Cameron-helmed sequel Aliens, which added heavy action elements to the mix. Romulus, which boasts a Certified Fresh score of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $350.7 million against its $80 million budget, is the ninth theatrical installment in the long-running franchise, including the two crossovers with the Predator franchise that premiered in the mid-2000s.

For the most part, the Alien: Romulus characters - played by a cast that includes Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, and Isabela Merced - are original creations who have never appeared in the franchise before. However, the synthetic Rook, who plays a major part in the third act of the movie, while an original character,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Alien: RomulusAlien: Romulus subverted audience expectations by bringing back a familiar face from the original film. However, as shocking as the movie's character return was 45 years after his previous franchise appearance his role also undid one of Alien's most effective plot twists. Made before audiences became overfamiliar with acid blood, facehuggers, and carnivorous xenomorphs, the 1979 movie featured several shocking scenes. While the iconic chestburster has passed into filmmaking folklore, the movie's actual best twist arguably had much greater narrative significance.

Alien's genius was the transplantation of haunted house tropes into outer space. A limited cast of characters encountered something utterly incomprehensible and terrifying, slowly succumbing to its power before one survivor emerged triumphant. It's a formula that has been repeated in the horror genre time and again. However, within this setup, the movie heightened the tension by refusing to conform to narrative convention,...

Warning: Contains potential spoilers for Alien: Romulus #1!

The Alien franchise continues to expand, as the first official look at the prequel comic for Alien: Romulus provides more insight into the film's backstory. The main plot of the latest movie sees a ragtag group of twenty-somethings try to commandeer a forgotten spacecraft, with unfortunately devastating results. Marvels new comic tie-in explains the origins of the films Romulus setting, and how the horror could have been avoided.

The preview for Alien: Romulus #1 written by Zac Thompson, with art by Daniel Picciotto features a crew investigating the wreckage from the very first Alien film. With story credits to the films director Fede Alvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues, the comic prequel dives into the terror that started before the events of the movie.

A Xenomorph body is picked up from the destroyed Nostromo ship and brought aboard the Renaissance station, divided into Remus and Romulus sections.

The forthcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set to be the first title released in the franchise since 2014s Dragon Age: Inquisition. Taking place a decade after the previous installment, Veilguard takes players back into the world of Thedas, where the elven god Solass nefarious plans spark a new quest helmed by the mercenary adventurer Rook. As is standard for the series, players create their own protagonists and provide them with starting factions and classes to establish them fully within Thedas before the journey begins.

Of the six separate factions players can choose from at the start of the game, all provide unique surnames for the Rook. These surnames are available regardless of the Rooks in-game race or class, and provide added flavor for players to draw on during their travels through Thedas.

All Unique Faction Surnames in Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Grey Wardens Surname: Thorne

The Grey Wardens...

Alien: Romulus is a great Alien movie, but its a little too reverent of the franchises past, with an abundance of on-the-nose references and Easter eggs calling back to the previous films. With a wildly entertaining blend of claustrophobic terror and blockbuster action spectacle, Alien: Romulus is arguably the strongest Alien film since James Camerons Aliens in 1986. Its one of director Fede lvarezs best movies, and it proves that, in addition to being a great dramatic actor, Cailee Spaeny is a badass action hero, too.

Theres a lot to love about Alien: Romulus, from its cast of rising stars to old-school practical effects to lvarezs razor-sharp command of tension to the jaw-dropping third-act twist. Its one of the most brilliantly crafted horror films of the year, and it rewards a big-screen viewing. Alien: Romulus has been well-received by critics, but its not a perfect movie. It certainly has a couple of flaws,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Alien: Romulus!

Although the Xenomorph are an incredibly deadly species, one of the Xenomorph in Alien: Romulus makes the seemingly strange decision not to kill Kay, and here is why. Throughout Alien: Romulus, several characters meet deadly fates at the hands of the Xenomorph, with the Xenomorph continuing to make thier kill counts that they have amassed throughout the Alien franchise even higher. However, the Xenomorph miss an easy kill near the end of Alien: Romulus, and while it is never explicitly explained why, the film subtly highlights why the aliens didn't kill Kay.

Alien: Romulus is the Alien sequel that brought the beloved sci-fi series back to its original form, with it maintaining the tone and storyline of the original Alien movies while still carrying over some elements from the later films, such as the black goo from Prometheus. Because of this, Alien: Romulus is...

Ahead of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release on October 31, several new previews have given an in-depth look at the game's new combat systems and mechanics. The fourth game in the Dragon Age series, Veilguard has gone through extended development times since 2018. Regardless of the long wait, however, general impressions from early previews of the game and its combat have been largely positive.

Over the course of three games, the combat of Dragon Age has steadily moved away from tactical RPG gameplay using a "real-time with pause" system, similar to the classic Baldur's Gate entries also developed by BioWare. While both Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition retained some tactical elements, like the ability to switch between characters, the combat of both games took a much more action-oriented approach. Now, as gameplay previews for Veilguard show its combat in-depth, it looks like the game emphasizes action even more than its predecessors.

Dragon Age:...

James Earl Jones’ iconic voice was among his many gifts as a performer. With the actor having died this week at 93, it remains to be seen whether that voice could appear in new projects, particularly from the Star Wars franchise.

One of Jones’ signature roles was providing the voice of Darth Vader, which he originated in 1977’s Star Wars and continued throughout the initial trilogy before reprising the character in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Although Jones was not involved in the 2022 Disney+ series Obi Wan-Kenobi, his voice was used, with Skywalker Sound editor Matthew Wood telling Vanity Fair at the time that the actor had quietly retired from the role but signed over rights to his archival voice work.

Jones made the deal with Ukrainian startup Respeecher, which used AI to cull through audio from his early Darth Vader...

The following contains spoilers for Alien: Romulus, now playing in theaters.

When Fede lvarez's Alien: Romulus was announced, audiences were intrigued to know how far it would deviate from the original movies. Previously, the Prometheus and Alien: Covenant prequels veered away from the concept of Xenomorphs stalking and killing on ships. But the Alien: Romulus trailer suggested that it would go back to basics.

In execution, lvarez strikes a clever balance. He adds exciting new details, while paying homage to the past. With that in mind, here is a rundown of the Easter eggs, cameos and bits of nostalgia that old-school fans would enjoy.

The Black Goo Nods to Key Alien Stories The Building Blocks of Life Are From the Alien Prequels

Movie Title

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Score

Metacritic

Alien: Romulus

7.4

80%

64%

In Alien: Romulus, Cailee Spaeny's Rain and her friends sneak aboard the Romulus ship to steal technology.

Warning: Major spoilers for Alien: Romulus below!A major Alien: Romulus easter egg could be setting up a controversial sequel involving Sigourney Weaver's Ripley. The box-office success of Alien: Romulus not only proves there's still an audience for the sci-fi saga, but that the latest sequel was right to start essentially from scratch. Instead of paying off Covenant's cliffhanger ending or bringing back a familiar face, the story focused on a new set of characters while expanding on concepts introduced in other entries. This includes the return of the Engineer's Black Goo, which has the power to alter the DNA of any living being.

Director Fede Alvarez is a noted fanboy of the series, so his film is still laden with easter eggs and nods. A well-hidden Romulus easter egg confirms Ripley's shuttle was docked at the Renaissance station in-between the events of Alien and Aliens. This poses many questions,...

Otto Hightower's absence in Season 2 of House of the Dragon leaves fans guessing his fate. Otto's unexpected imprisonment raises questions about his captor. Fans eagerly await Season 3 to unravel Otto Hightower's storyline.

The highly-anticipated prequel series to the worldwide phenomenon has recently wrapped up its second round. Although House of the Dragon Season 2 cracked the fandom at the seams, the finale still ended with the classic mysterious aura and several cliffhangers. It's safe to assume that HotD Season 2 wasn't exactly what fans were hoping for a slow and antagonizing build-up for the final showdown to come.

Fans felt that a few key characters were underutilized in the show, and the Hightowers' patriarch was one of them. Otto Hightower was one of the key players who set the stage for the Targaryen civil war. However, not only was he missing for a good part of the season, but his little...

The upcoming Dragon Age title, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is one of the most anticipated game releases. Everything that fans have learnt so far has only made them more eager to get their hands on the game.

But it seems like there are some things that may not impress longtime fans. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is deviating from a companion feature that has long been a part of the franchise and fans may be in for a disappointment.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Has Made a Big Change to Companions

Companions have been an important of the franchise and they will be in The Veilguard too. In a conversation with Edge Magazine Issue #401 via GamesRadar+, the game director of The Veilguard Corinne Busche revealed that the studio has not added one companion feature.

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