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. 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 the studio is "reimagining how we work" during the period between major development cycles. He stated that the current Mass Effect development phase doesn't require the entire studio's workforce. Many BioWare employees have been transitioned to other suitable roles within EA. A smaller number of Dragon Age team members have faced job termination, though they've been offered opportunities to apply for other positions within the company.

BioWare has undergone significant structural changes in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, most recently director Corinne Busche. EA declined to provide specific numbers regarding the impact of the restructuring, but confirmed the studio is now appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development. They emphasized that the studio's focus has shifted entirely to Mass Effect following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages. BioWare's current strategy prioritizes a single game at a time. This involves shifting developers between projects as needed; some developers previously assigned to Mass Effect were transferred to Dragon Age to ensure its completion and are 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 fell short of player expectations by almost 50%, contributing to a lowered fiscal year outlook, alongside underperformance from EA Sports FC 25. EA's Q3 earnings call is scheduled for February 4.