Dragon Age: The Veilguard showcases impressive hair technology thanks to FIFA and Madden.
The technology is really good, maybe even too good.
EA has published an extensive article describing the technical work done for hair rendering in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Historically, it has been challenging to find games with character creators that offer a wide range of hairstyles, especially for those with curly or afro textures; however, new titles are improving in representing these features that are common among many people of color. Nonetheless, a new challenge arises: achieving not only diverse hairstyles but also making them look and behave naturally.
For example, in Horizon Forbidden West, it was noted that Varl's braids appeared to be made of foam, while his beard was presented as a simple smooth texture that did not reflect the typical curly texture of a Black man. Therefore, it is a relief to see that BioWare has invested so much effort into including diverse hairstyles and making them behave authentically.
EA's blog explains that their Strand Hair technology "combines physics with real-time rendering to simulate a realistic modeling of human hair." This technology has already been used in EA's sports titles, where accurately representing real people is crucial. However, Dragon Age: The Veilguard involves characters interacting with dynamic environments, such as running through waterfalls or being surrounded by magical particles, which required further enhancement of this technology.
The article highlights that "one of the main differences between Dragon Age: The Veilguard and other Frostbite titles that already use Strand Hair is the vast variety and amount of visual effects and transparent objects." Elements like magical spells, smoke, fire, and fog demand seamless integration into the environment and the magic of Thedas. The Strand Hair technology can be seen in action in a video.
The result is beautiful, luxurious hair that has rarely been seen in other games. The author, known for being particular about hair representation in video games, was pleasantly surprised by the options in Veilguard. Initially, he chose a braided ponytail style and noted that it included details like "baby hairs," a common element in hairstyles from the Black and Latinx communities, often overlooked in other titles. The developers really took the time to research.
Despite the remarkable variety and technological advancement, the author points out that the hair effect might be slightly exaggerated. The Black texture moves, but not as much as in Veilguard. During gameplay, he decided to change his hairstyle from braids to a short, slightly curly style similar to Zoë Kravitz's in The Batman. In real life, this type of short hair stays in place, but in the game, it moved excessively with every slight movement of the character, which resulted in a somewhat comical effect.
Still, the technical work behind the hair representation is respected and appreciated, as it is a culturally significant aspect. These improvements are just some of the little things that make Veilguard a notable evolution compared to previous Dragon Age games.
