Solas Origin Story Explored in Dragon Age Veilguard Concept Art Unveiling

Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a More Vengeful Solas

Early concept sketches by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Solas's character in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These sketches, showcased on Thornborrow's website, reveal a more overtly vengeful and god-like Solas than the advisor role he ultimately plays in the final game.

Thornborrow, who contributed to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype to explore plotlines, shared over 100 sketches. Many depict scenes that made it into the finished product, but with significant visual differences. Solas's portrayal in the concept art often shows him as a colossal, shadowy figure, far removed from his more subdued presence in the released game.

The contrast between concept and final product is particularly striking in scenes depicting Solas's actions. While the initial Veil-rending event appears largely unchanged, other sequences show a more direct and sinister involvement from Solas, hinting at a darker, more active role in the narrative than what players ultimately experienced. The ambiguity surrounding whether these scenes represent dreams or real-world events adds another layer of intrigue.

The discrepancy between the concept art and the final game isn't surprising, given the nearly ten-year gap between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, along with the last-minute title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's contribution provides valuable context, bridging the gap between the initial vision and the final product, offering fans a richer understanding of Solas's character arc. The sketches highlight a potentially darker, more powerful Solas that was ultimately toned down in the final game.

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