Dragon Age: Solas Origin Explored in Early Concept Art

Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a Darker 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 story ideas, shared over 100 sketches. While many scenes remain consistent with the final product, Solas's portrayal shows significant divergence. The concept art depicts him as a far more imposing figure, often immense and shrouded in shadow, a stark contrast to his largely dream-based appearances in the released game.

The shift in Solas's depiction hints at a potentially darker, more active role originally envisioned for him. While the Veil-tearing sequence appears largely unchanged, other scenes suggest a more direct and sinister involvement in the game's events, raising questions about whether certain concepts were ultimately relegated to Rook's dreams or represented alternative scenarios.

This behind-the-scenes look offers valuable context, particularly given the significant time gap between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, and the game's late title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. The differences between concept and final product highlight the substantial evolution the story underwent during development, providing fans with a deeper understanding of the creative process. The contrast between the vengeful god persona hinted at in the early sketches and the more restrained portrayal in the final game invites speculation on the narrative choices made along the way.