It's been five years since the last entry in the Dragon Age franchise. Updates have been slow, with the only new information being from a teaser trailer and Tevinter Nights, which is a collection of short stories. Additionally, Trespasser opened the doors for the story to go in directions few would have guessed when Origins was released over ten years ago.

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While there hasn't been much in the way of official announcements for the next Dragon Age game, Inquisition and Tevinter Nights do a good job of setting up Dragon Age 4. There are plenty of clues to go on if one knows where to look - 1o of which are listed here. Here are 10 things we know about the potential Dragon Age 4. 

10 BioWare Is Working On A Dragon Age Game

Is there going to be a new Dragon Age game? The Dread Wolf Rises teaser trailer may have confirmed that for some but for others, it wasn't enough. Trouble at BioWare has been making the news in recent years, with Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem failing catastrophically.

However, developer Mark Darrah has recently confirmed in a tweet that he's working on an unannounced Dragon Age project, along with Trespasser's lead writer, Patrick Weekes. These confirmations should allay fears that Dragon Age has been discontinued, even though the release of Dragon Age 4 is still likely a few years off.

9 It's Probably Going To Be Set In Tevinter Imperium

Tevinter is a land of mystery and magic, and its reach and influence have been felt in Dragon Age since Origins. Ruled by the Black Divine and the magisters, the Tevinter Imperium is a setting anticipated by fans due to its rich history, complex society, lore, and connection to the Elvhen. More than a few in-game events point to the setting moving to Tevinter - the Inquisitor stabs a dagger into a map of Thedas, right over Tevinter.

Additionally, the slides at the end of the Trespasser DLC point towards an escalation of Tevinter's war with the Qunari, an interesting backdrop amidst everything else that's gone wrong. Finally, Tevinter Nights was obviously set in Tevinter. Events in Southern Thedas have finally settled down. Now it's time for the North to shine.

8 The Player Character Could Be The Inquisitor

Should the Inquisitor return as the player character? Doing so would break the pattern the franchise has held so far, as the protagonist for each game has changed. Unlike the Warden and Hawke, the Inquisitor will always survive the end of Trespasser, albeit sans an arm.

This could be an argument against the Inquisitor appearing as the protagonist, but post-game slides show the Inquisitor wielding a crossbow prosthetic. Additionally, in the Tevinter Nights story The Streets of Minrathous, the protagonist sports a dwarven-made prosthetic made from metal, a prosthetic that has the full functionality of her other leg. Confronting Solas as anyone but the Inquisitor would be a missed opportunity, considering the relationship you form with him in Inquisition, friendly or not.

7 The Inquisition Will Still Be Active

Regardless of the role the Inquisitor will play, the Inquisition is still a force to be reckoned with in Thedas.  The Inquisition is mentioned or appears throughout the stories in Tevinter Nights. While it's nowhere near the force it was in Trespasser, the organization still holds enough clout to call a meeting of high-ranking spies, mages, and an executor.

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Opinions on the Inquisition itself are mixed. This is fair considering Solas went unnoticed in their ranks for years, but other organizations defer to the Inquisition simply because of the information it has on Solas, the eluvians, and his spy network embedded across Thedas.

6 Some Familiar Faces Might Return

Cameos are a Dragon Age staple and companion always carries over to the next game. The strongest contender for a reappearance in Dragon Age 4 is Dorian. A fan favorite in Inquisition, Dorian has since risen to the rank of magister and is a major player in Tevinter's high society.

Dorian not only appears in Tevinter Nights, but he has the most connections to Tevinter and Solas. He's also guaranteed to be alive come Dragon Age 4. Other characters might make appearances, such as Morrigan.

5 The Red Lyrium Idol Will Be Important

The red lyrium idol has become something of a relay stick as it's been passed from owner to owner across Thedas. Rediscovered by Hawke in the Primeval Thaig, the lyrium idol depicts two figures embracing. This lyrium idol is the focus of The Dread Wolf Rises trailer and The Dread Wolf Take You in Tevinter Nights. This all points to it being important in the upcoming game.

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Tevinter Nights explains: the idol was removed from Meredith's lyrium statue in Kirkwall in its original form. Agents of Fen'Harel tracked the idol's journey until Solas took it. He states he needs it for a ritual, presumably one to tear down the Veil. No matter the purpose, the idol is here to stay and is sure to play a role in Dragon Age 4.

4 The Evanuris Will Make An Appearance

The Evanuris, the gods gods worshiped by the Dalish as the Creators and were sealed away by the Dread Wolf, are one of the biggest mysteries yet to be explained in Dragon Age. One of the biggest twists in Inquisition was when they were proven to be real. The game asks us to question if they are gods, spirits, or just powerful mages. It does get to a point where the debate becomes an exercise in semantics, so powerful are the deeds of the Evanuris described.

Solas, who is the Dread Wolf and did imprison the gods (save Mythal), describes their crimes. Much of Trespasser is focused on them. Tevinter Nights goes on to detail a laboratory of gruesome experiments committed by the Evanuris Ghilan'nain in Horror of Hormak. Considering their importance to the fate and history of Thedas, the elven gods will most likely play some role in Dragon Age 4.

3 Not All Elves Will Support Solas

Elves in Dragon Age are in a precarious position as an oppressed race who are considered second-class citizens by much of Thedas. The crusade of the Dread Wolf is going to be attractive to many elves. This is already evident through Solas's vast elven spy network, which is embedded across Thedas in TrespasserBut elves supporting Solas are not a given. Trespasser showed many elves working for the Qunari.

Perhaps a case more succinct is found in The Dread Wolf Take You. Charter, an elven spy for the Inquisition, thinks of the people she loves in Thedas who are not elves. All these people she cares for would perish should Solas's plans come to pass. The position of elves, as was the position of mages in Dragon Age 2, is about to change forever. Dragon Age 4 will be deciding the direction it takes.

2 The Qunari Are Probably Going To Be A Threat

If Dragon Age 4 is set in Tevinter, the Qunari are going to be a threat. The Qunari had held peace treaties with the southern nations of Thedas since the long-past Exalted Marches. They held no such treaties with Tevinter, and the two nations have been in a constant state of war for centuries.

Post-game slides in Trespasser reveal that the Qunari have mobilized to escalate their war with Tevinter. This state of war has continued through the stories in Tevinter Nights.

1 The Mystery Of The Executors May Be Unraveled

Appearing only as a part of the war table mission "Unmasking Those From Across The Sea" in Inquisition, the Executors are a shady and secretive group. Tevinter Nights features a member of the group. They are covered from head to toe, their face obscured by a mesh, and are described as smelling like the ocean. Odder still, they speak in a voice with no discernible qualities, more as an idea than an actual voice.

The Executors making an appearance in Tevinter Nights, the enigma of them possibly being from beyond Thedas, and their interest in the Dread Wolf makes them very likely to make an appearance in Dragon Age 4.

 NEXT: 5 Reasons We're Worried About Dragon Age 4 (& 5 Reasons To Be Excited)