Dragon Age 4 is in development, though fans may not see it for quite some time. But that has not stopped key details from coming to light, including the Dread Wolf playing a role in Dragon Age 4.
While the role of the main character in Dragon Age 4 is still anyone's guess, the game will certainly have some big shoes to fill in looking back at Dragon Age's previous protagonists in all their glory, and their miraculous feats.
From the Warden's story of willpower against insurmountable odds presented by the Blight, Hawke's journey of hope through bleak and treacherous times in a city teetering on conflict, and faith as restored by the Inquisitor in a world in need of such, each character uniquely inspires the world around them in their own ways.
The Warden
Dragon Age: Origins' protagonist, The Warden, had no easy means of finishing his mission. Firstly, he was ordered by King Cailen to join the Grey Warden's, comprising a ritual of consuming Darkspawn blood which kills most would-be recruits, leaving only a lucky minority to survive its Joining.
The Grey Wardens are an ancient group sworn to protect the world against any incoming Blight, or Darkspawn uprisings. For those who survive the consumption of Darkspawn blood and become Grey Wardens, they gain special abilities in their fight against the Blight.
The Warden also was responsible for stopping a raging civil war utilizing an ancient treaty signed by the various races, obligating them to focus on fighting the Blight instead of themselves.
Peace was sealed by the famous Landsmeet, a public meeting in which The Warden risked his own life in turning on the ruler of Fereldon, Loghain, thereby counting on the rest of the leaders to follow suit and turn the tides in his favor.
Hawke
Hawke, a natural mediator, is perhaps one of the most likable aspects of Dragon Age 2 for many fans. Overall, Dragon Age 2 received some criticism for its linearity, recycled level design, and smaller world, but its story, and especially its main character, Hawke, were considered to be among its strong points.
Hawke, later known as Hero of Kirkwall, was a different type of character than in other Dragon Age games. Firstly, he was not a created character, unlike the protagonists in Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Also unique to Hawke, he was not always central to the current events transpiring in the game world, though he was often caught up in them and influenced their outcome. Furthermore, in Dragon Age 2's more minuscule setting in Kirkwall, Hawke is also perhaps a more everyday character that refrains from fitting the mold of a typical hero. He never gained any special powers or notable stature in the greater world of Thedas, but this likely makes sense in a game that is mostly confined to the city of Kirkwall.
As expected, it was not long before Hawke caught the attention of key figureheads in Kirkwall city's politics. One early example can be recalled when The Warden was summoned by the Viscount of Kirkwall to resolve tensions with the Qunari refugees and their leader Arishok, in a side-story which addressed forms of prejudice in a fantasy world.
By the end of Dragon Age 2, Hawke ultimately jump-starts the mage rebellion in Dragon Age, which engulfs Thedas in Dragon Age: Inquisition. As mages in Kirkwall rebel, the Circle of Magi all over Thedas begin to follow this example. In fact, this is probably Hawke's greatest contribution to the world of Thedas as far as fundamentally altering the course of events in the plot thereafter, even if the ramifications were unintional.
Depending on player choices, Hawke can even become Viscount of Kirkwall at the end of the game.
The Inquisitor
The Inquisitor certainly has his hands most full among the protagonists in Dragon Age's games, from managing and dispatching agents to complete missions all over Dragon Age's Thedas in managing war resources, and becoming the Inquisitor himself. While the Warden could better be described as a non-political actor with some insider-ties, who inspired others with his willpower, the Inquisitor was more reminiscent of a military general who invoked faith in his followers.
But it is not particularly surprising that the Inquisitor can invoke such faith and inspiration in others, when he is able to close Rifts in front of their very eyes. Rifts are portals that allow demons or spirits to enter the world and wreak havoc upon it. This ability quickly earned him the name as the "Herald of Andraste." Andraste is the prophet of Thedas' main religion, Andrastianism.
Finally, becoming the leader of the Inquisition, an ancient organization revived and tasked with saving the world and leading the war efforts, is fairly high in prestige.
But perhaps Dragon Age 4 will see a protagonist similar to Hawke, but in an ever-larger world that sets the scope of Thedas' current events into the spotlight. In Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition, we see characters that became significant characters in the world at large, commanding armies and having much say of the important decision making within Thedas' political sphere.
Dragon Age 2 scaled back both the setting and the overall stature of the character in proportion to the world. But perhaps Dragon Age 4 could explore a different dimension, in presenting a character who is relatively unknown or insignificant in the larger spectrum of a vast game world, at least in the beginning. The Witcher series played on this type of character building well in the presentation of Geralt, its main protagonist, who is partially famous (or infamous) among some in its world-setting, and mostly uninterested in politics. Furthermore, his identity as a witcher means he has relatively little stature, significance or prestige in such a world, though his charm compensates at times.
It is also possible we may see the Inquisitor return to Dragon Age 4 as well, given that he is the only protagonist in all the games who does not die, no matter what player choices are made. Also, the Inquisition is most likely still active.
Overall, given the feats and titles of the previous protagonists, Dragon Age 4 will not only need to come up with a significant role for its next main character, but he or she will also need to stand out as uniquely different from anything seen among the main characters in previous games.
Dragon Age 4 is confirmed to be in development for PS5.