BioWare, renowned for its flagship franchises Dragon Age and Mass Effect, is reportedly undergoing significant layoffs and team relocations, shrinking to less than half its size compared to two years ago. The studio has dismissed over 20 employees and has permanently reassigned several others to different teams within its parent company, Electronic Arts (EA). This restructuring aligns with a recent studio update indicating a renewed focus on developing the next installment of Mass Effect, during which many staff members were reassigned to various EA divisions.
Staff Changes at BioWare
A Bloomberg report published on Friday detailed that numerous BioWare employees, who had been temporarily reassigned to other EA teams following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, were informed last week that their interim status would now become permanent. According to insiders familiar with the situation, these individuals are no longer part of BioWare and have been integrated into the EA studios they were allocated to.
The report also noted that approximately two dozen additional employees have been laid off during this transition, resulting in BioWare’s workforce decreasing to under 100 employees, down from over 200 in 2023.
In a studio update released last week, general manager Gary McKay announced that a dedicated team at BioWare is now focused on the next Mass Effect title, led by key veterans from the original trilogy such as Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, among others. McKay emphasized the need to reevaluate workflows during game development cycles.
“At this stage of development, we don’t need the full studio’s support. We have remarkable talent here at BioWare, and we have worked diligently to connect many of our colleagues with other EA teams that have openings suitable for their skills,” McKay stated in the update on the studio’s website.
“Today’s announcement positions BioWare as a more agile and focused studio committed to delivering memorable RPG experiences. We value your support as we embark on this new chapter for BioWare,” he added.
On Monday, Gamble, who is overseeing the development of the new Mass Effect, confirmed that the project remains in its pre-production phase.
This restructuring at BioWare follows EA’s acknowledgment that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not meet its sales targets.