BioWare, the renowned game development studio, has seen its employee count dwindle to under 100 following recent layoffs and staff departures. This shift comes in the wake of the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a strategic pivot towards the development of the next Mass Effect game.
Just two years ago, during the peak of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's development, BioWare boasted over 200 employees. However, last week, EA announced a restructuring that narrowed BioWare's focus solely to Mass Effect 5. As a result, several team members who worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard have been reassigned to other projects within EA. Notably, John Epler, the creative director of Veilguard, has transitioned to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game Skate, while senior writer Sheryl Chee has moved to Motive to contribute to the Iron Man project.
EA's decision to refocus BioWare's efforts follows the underwhelming performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The game engaged only 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter, falling nearly 50% short of EA's expectations. These staff reassignments, initially intended as temporary loans, have now become permanent relocations, and those moved to other EA studios are no longer considered BioWare employees.
In addition to these reassignments, several BioWare developers have been laid off and are now seeking new opportunities. Notable among those affected are editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm. These layoffs come on the heels of another round of staff reductions in 2023 and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche.
When asked for specifics on the impact of these changes, EA provided a vague response, emphasizing their current focus on Mass Effect and stating that BioWare has "the right number of people in the right roles" for this stage of development. Bloomberg reported that approximately two dozen individuals were affected by the recent layoffs at BioWare. Jason Schreier, who authored the Bloomberg report, noted that the successful completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard was seen as a "miracle" by BioWare staff, given the challenges posed by EA's fluctuating demands regarding live-service elements.
As fans of the Dragon Age series express concerns about its future, a former BioWare writer offered reassurance, stating, "Dragon Age isn't dead because it's yours now."
Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a dedicated "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, is now focused on developing the next installment in the Mass Effect series.
