EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing Entirely 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 the decision as a strategic realignment during a period between major development cycles. He stated that the full studio's support isn't currently needed for the Mass Effect project and that developers have been carefully placed into suitable roles within other EA teams.
While EA hasn't disclosed specific numbers, it's understood that some BioWare employees have transitioned to equivalent positions within EA, while a smaller number of Dragon Age team members have faced job termination, with the option to apply for other internal roles.
This restructuring follows previous layoffs at BioWare in 2023 and several high-profile departures, including the recent announcement of director Corinne Busche's departure. The studio's organizational structure has undergone significant changes in recent years.
EA's statement emphasizes that the studio's focus is now solely on the next Mass Effect title, which was announced four years ago and remains in early development. The company confirmed that veteran Mass Effect developers, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, are leading the project. The strategy, according to sources, is to prioritize a single game at a time, with some developers who previously assisted with Dragon Age: The Veilguard now returning to the Mass Effect team.
This announcement follows EA's recent revelation that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell significantly short of player expectations (by almost 50%), impacting the company's fiscal year guidance. EA will discuss its Q3 earnings on February 4th.
