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

EA has announced a restructuring of BioWare, the studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect, shifting developers to other EA projects and concentrating solely on the upcoming Mass Effect game. In a blog post, general manager Gary McKay explained that this restructuring, occurring between development cycles, allows BioWare to "reimagine how we work." He stated that the full studio's support wasn't needed for the current Mass Effect development phase, 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 reassigned, with a smaller number of Dragon Age team members facing potential termination, offered the opportunity to apply for other internal positions. This follows previous layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures, including director Corinne Busche's recent announcement.

EA's statement emphasizes that Dragon Age was the studio's priority until its completion. Now, with Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched, the focus is entirely on Mass Effect, led by veteran developers Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley. The strategy is to prioritize single-game development, with some developers who previously assisted with Dragon Age returning to the Mass Effect team.

This restructuring comes after EA revealed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed player targets by almost 50%, contributing to a reduced fiscal year guidance alongside weaker-than-expected EA Sports FC 25 performance. EA's Q3 earnings call is scheduled for February 4. The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages of development.