BioWare Shifts Focus for Mass Effect 5

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 period between major development cycles to "reimagine how we work." He stated that the full studio's support wasn'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 an unspecified number of BioWare developers have been relocated. A smaller group of Dragon Age team members have faced role terminations, with the option to apply for other positions within the company.

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 current size of BioWare's workforce remains unclear. EA declined to provide specifics on the number of employees affected, stating only that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development. They emphasized that the studio's priority has shifted from Dragon Age to Mass Effect following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early stages.

BioWare's new strategy involves prioritizing one game at a time. This includes shifting developers who previously worked on Mass Effect to assist with the completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and now returning them to the Mass Effect project. 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 missed player targets by approximately 50%, impacting their fiscal year guidance alongside underperforming results from EA Sports FC 25. EA will discuss these results further during their Q3 earnings call on February 4.