Mass Effect 5 Preview: BioWare Restructures for Dev

EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing Solely on Next Mass Effect Game

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced a restructuring of BioWare, the studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect. The restructuring involves reassigning several 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 isn'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 moved to different positions within EA. A smaller number of Dragon Age team members have had their positions terminated, 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 current size of BioWare's workforce remains unclear. EA declined to provide specifics on the number of employees affected by the restructuring or those remaining at the studio. However, an EA spokesperson stated that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early stages. BioWare's current strategy prioritizes focusing on a single game at a time. This has involved shifting developers between Mass Effect and Dragon Age as needed to complete projects, with some developers now returning to the Mass Effect team. 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 weaker-than-expected performance from EA Sports FC 25. EA will hold a Q3 earnings call on February 4th.