Can DA4 even compete in today's quality of games?

None of us know what DA4 is going to bring because we have no details. And as for the unreleased games you listed, we have no idea what quality those games will turn out as once they've launched.

Do I think BioWare's games will be able to compete on the same level as the developers who made those games you've listed (based on previously released titles)? Probably not. There's been a host of problems surrounding the development and design philosophies behind BioWare's most recent games:

- The studio has had fundamental issues with structuring a vision for their games in a reasonable amount of time
- They're working with an engine that gives them more push-back than what would be tolerated
- They're publisher insists that their games be antithetical to the game structures they were best known for
- The quality of their writing has taken a marked downturn

So while I won't say DA4 will be a bad game, I don't have any hopes that it will reach the critical acclaim of games like ME2, DA:O, KOTOR, or even a TW3 and Original Sin 2. I'm just skeptical right now.

I would like to say, however, that there are some caveats to the games you've listed.

Many of the first-party titles you listed don't have to deal with the creative-freedom concerns common to that of third-party, publisher-owned games. They're meant to sell consoles, and with Sony pushing for single player experiences with their first party games, there was likely more wiggle room for the studios making those games.

CDPR is in a very unique position among independent studios, as they not only have a digital distribution service (GOG) that helps bring in revenue, but they've also received a loan from the Polish government. While I think its important that they remain independent to the benefit of their games, they're in a unique scenario that not many other independent studios could ever hope to find themselves in. Their only other counterpart (that I can think of) is Epic. Because of this revenue stream and independence, they pretty much have free reign to do whatever they want. BioWare - unfortunately - didn't have such an option in the late 2000's. Even today with Obsidian, a studio known for making many well-liked RPG titles, they've been acquired by Microsoft.

I'd argue the only AAA studio that got its story-telling right, while also being under a publisher, is Rockstar. It helps that they've got a lot of clout, and can basically work on one game at a time. Even still, the online portions of their games have had numerous complaints with lack of content and microtransaction ordeals. The only thing that keeps people from not caring that much about it is (1) most people don't play for MP, and (2) these modes are released well after the singleplayer version of the game comes out; preventing MP from affecting review scores (which I don't like tbh).

Overall, I got no clue where DA4 will end up, but I remain unmoved in my skepticism.

I hope it can, but we will have to wait and see.

DA4 has a lot going for it:

• Established and well-liked series with ongoing story and lore
• Experienced writing and dev teams
• It sounds like they have the basics of Frostbite working for an rpg
  

Unfortunately, there are also some major potential drawbacks:

• EA
• Their obsession with multiplayer being in every game: Multiplayer was never popular in Dragon Age. With Anthem as their multiplayer game, Dragon Age could have been their single-player series, and they could have put all their resources into making a great single-player experience.
  
• Games as service/microtransactions
• Single player may not get the resources it needs to compete with other AAA games
  

Can MajesticJazz even compete with today’s quality of trolls?

He's got his trolling work cut out for him

DA4 has an advantage over MEA and Anthem: the writing team is strong, the story is building off of the previous games (MEA used Mass effect lore but was writing the series out of the corner from the ME3 endings and clearly seemed like it was written by committee in order to continue the franchise). There was a roadmap for the series, even if it’s been rebooted now.

Things against it: live service model, micro transactions, Frostbite, BioWare management.

I do think if DA4 requires online access to play that will be an indication of GaaS winning over a singe player experience with live elements.

Significantly better comparisons to make would be to the increasing number of roleplay-heavy AA RPGs and cRPGs that have been coming out in the last few years. But as stated previously, we don't really know anything about DA4 and it's possible Bioware will take note of industry trends and make changes from the formula they've fallen into in the last few games. The fact that Microsoft is backing many of those RPGs now could also be a point that could potentially get EA to give them a bit more leeway in how they make the game.

Horizon 2 is coming and will be a next gen title.

And whether you were impressed with it or not is irrelevant. The it was critically and financially well received and held its own against BOTW and crushed MEA. So DA4 would in some way or another would be compared against the inevitable Horizon 2.

While I loathe most large corporations it should be pointed out that except for ME1 everygame made this console generation and last by bioware has been with EA. So DAO and all it's dlcs,ME2,DA2,ME3,DAI,MEA,and anthem. ME2 is one of the greatest games there is and DAO is a legendary RPG. Those were done while they were with EA. That said the live service thing is EA. However we have no idea what DA4 is gonna be about or whats happening so saying it is gonna suck or be at best a decent game is pointless. I am not a fan of frostbite so far but if they can get it to work then who knows (I have no clue about technology so I can't say anything on that matter). So we don't know if it is gonna suck,be great,or be an okay game.

Small FYI, DAO was actually well into development long before EA came a long and ruined things.

DAO was deep into development by the time EA came along.