EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing Solely on Next Mass Effect Game
Electronic Arts (EA) has announced a restructuring of BioWare, the studio behind the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. The restructuring involves reassigning a number of developers to other EA projects and concentrating all remaining resources on the upcoming Mass Effect game.
In a blog post, BioWare general manager Gary McKay explained that the studio is using the time between major development cycles to "reimagine how we work." He stated that the full studio's support isn't currently needed for the Mass Effect project and that many employees have been successfully transitioned to other suitable roles within EA.
While EA hasn't disclosed specific numbers, it's understood that some Dragon Age team members have been let go, with the option to apply for other positions within the company. This follows previous layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures in recent years, including the recent exit of director Corinne Busche. The current size of BioWare's workforce remains undisclosed.
EA's statement emphasized that the studio's focus has shifted from Dragon Age to Mass Effect. They confirmed having the appropriate personnel for the current stage of Mass Effect development, but declined to provide details on the number of employees affected by the restructuring.
The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early stages. BioWare's strategy now involves prioritizing single game development, with some developers who previously worked on Mass Effect returning to the project after assisting with the completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Veteran developers Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley are leading the Mass Effect development.
This announcement follows EA's recent revelation that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of player expectations by approximately 50%, impacting their fiscal year guidance. EA's Q3 earnings call is scheduled for February 4.
