Mass Effect 5: BioWare Doesn't 'Require Support From the Full Studio', EA Moves Some Staff to Other Teams

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. This reorganization 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 the studio is "reimagining how we work" between major development cycles. He stated that the current Mass Effect development phase doesn't require the entire studio's workforce. Consequently, many BioWare employees have been transitioned to other suitable roles within EA.

While EA hasn't disclosed exact figures, it's understood that a number of Dragon Age team members have been laid off, with the option to apply for other positions within the company. This restructuring follows previous layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures, including director Corinne Busche's recent announcement.

EA's statement emphasizes that the studio is now fully dedicated to the next Mass Effect title, which was revealed four years ago and remains in early development. The company's strategy now involves prioritizing single game development. This includes shifting developers who previously assisted with Dragon Age back 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 significantly missed player expectations (by almost 50%), contributing to a lowered fiscal year outlook, alongside underperformance from EA Sports FC 25. EA will discuss these results further during its Q3 earnings call on February 4.