EA has recently announced a significant restructuring at BioWare, the studio behind the iconic Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. The company is shifting its focus entirely to the upcoming Mass Effect game, moving numerous developers to other projects within EA and adjusting the team composition at BioWare. In a detailed blog post, BioWare's general manager Gary McKay explained that the studio is leveraging the time between major development cycles to reimagine its operational approach.
McKay stated that, at this stage of development, the full studio's resources are not needed for the Mass Effect project. He highlighted the talent within BioWare and the efforts made over recent months to place many colleagues in suitable roles across EA. IGN has learned that an undisclosed number of BioWare developers have already been reassigned to equivalent positions within EA, while a smaller group from the Dragon Age team faces termination. Those affected are being given the opportunity to apply for other roles within the company.
BioWare's organizational structure has undergone multiple changes in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile exits during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Most recently, director Corinne Busche announced her departure from the studio. The exact number of current BioWare employees remains unclear. IGN reached out to EA for more details on the impact of these changes, including the number of affected individuals and those potentially facing layoffs, but EA did not disclose specific figures. However, an EA spokesperson emphasized that the studio is now fully focused on Mass Effect following the release of The Veilguard, and it has the appropriate team size and roles for the current development phase of Mass Effect.
The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early stages. BioWare's strategy is to concentrate on one game at a time, with some developers who were previously working on Mass Effect having been reassigned to Dragon Age to help complete that project. They are now returning to work on Mass Effect. The development of this new installment is being led by series veterans such as Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley.
This restructuring news follows EA's recent announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not meet its player targets by nearly 50%, which, alongside weaker-than-expected results from EA Sports FC 25, prompted EA to adjust its fiscal year guidance. The company is set to discuss these developments further during its Q3 earnings conference call on February 4.
