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 using the period between major development cycles to "reimagine how we work at BioWare." 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 developers have been moved to other positions within the company. A smaller number of Dragon Age team members face potential layoffs, with the option to apply for other internal roles.

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. The current size of BioWare's workforce remains unclear. EA declined to provide specifics on the number of employees affected by the restructuring. However, an EA spokesperson stated that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development, with its full focus now on that title 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 current strategy prioritizes single-game development, with some developers who previously worked on Mass Effect temporarily assigned to Dragon Age: The Veilguard now returning 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 almost 50%, leading to a reduction in the company's fiscal year guidance. EA will discuss these matters further during its Q3 earnings call on February 4.