Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following restructuring for Mass Effect 5.
On January 29th, IGN reported that BioWare had reassigned numerous developers to other EA projects, fully concentrating on Mass Effect 5. General manager Gary McKay explained this restructuring as an opportunity to "reimagine how we work" between development cycles, stating that the full studio's support wasn't currently needed for Mass Effect 5. McKay confirmed that many employees were successfully placed within other EA teams.
However, a smaller number of Dragon Age team members faced termination, with the option to apply for other internal roles. Several BioWare developers subsequently announced their departures on social media, including editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer Patrick Weekes, and editor Ryan Cormier. Producer Jen Cheverie and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm also confirmed their exits.
This follows 2023 layoffs and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche. While EA didn't provide specific numbers regarding impacted employees, their statement confirmed a shift in focus to Mass Effect 5, implying a reduction in BioWare's workforce. They emphasized that the remaining team is adequately sized for the current stage of Mass Effect 5 development.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new entry in the series in a decade, concluded its development last week with what appeared to be a final update. The game's lackluster performance, including the absence of post-launch DLC and a 50% shortfall in sales expectations (1.5 million players versus the projected 3 million), has been well-documented. Previous reports detailed development challenges, including layoffs and the departure of several key personnel.
Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a core team of Mass Effect veterans, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others, are leading development on the next Mass Effect game.
