ME5 Update: BioWare Focuses On Scaling

EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing Entirely 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 that the studio is using the time between development cycles to "reimagine how we work." He stated that the full studio's support isn't currently needed for the Mass Effect project. Many BioWare employees have been transitioned to other suitable roles within EA, while a smaller number of Dragon Age team members have been let go, with the option to apply for other positions within the company.

This restructuring follows a series of changes at BioWare in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures, most recently director Corinne Busche. While EA hasn't disclosed specific numbers regarding the impact of this restructuring, a spokesperson confirmed that the studio is now appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development. The spokesperson emphasized that the studio's focus has shifted from Dragon Age, which recently launched, to the next Mass Effect title.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages. BioWare's current strategy involves prioritizing a single game at a time. Some developers who previously worked on Mass Effect were temporarily assigned to Dragon Age to ensure its completion and are 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 significantly missed player acquisition targets (by almost 50%) and resulted in a downward revision of the company's fiscal year guidance. EA will discuss these results further during its Q3 earnings call on February 4.