BioWare Shifts Staff as Mass Effect 5 Development Continues

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced a significant restructuring at BioWare, the studio behind the iconic Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. The focus is now shifting entirely to the upcoming Mass Effect game, with a number of developers being reassigned to other projects within EA. This strategic pivot comes as BioWare aims to "reimagine" its operational approach between major development cycles, according to a blog post by BioWare's general manager, Gary McKay.

McKay emphasized that, given the current development stage of the new Mass Effect game, the full studio's support is not required. He stated that the studio has been working over the past few months to place many of its talented colleagues in equivalent roles across EA where their skills would be a strong fit. IGN has learned that an unspecified number of BioWare developers have already been transitioned into new roles within the company. However, a smaller group of developers from the Dragon Age team are facing termination, with the option to apply for other positions within EA.

BioWare has experienced several shifts in its structure in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and numerous high-profile departures during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Notably, director Corinne Busche announced her departure from the studio just last week. The current employee count at BioWare remains unclear. When asked for specifics about the impact on BioWare's workforce, EA did not provide detailed numbers but stated through a spokesperson that the studio now has "the right number of people in the right roles" to focus on Mass Effect.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early development phase. BioWare's strategy has shifted to prioritizing one game at a time, with some developers who were working on Mass Effect having been moved to Dragon Age to ensure its completion before returning to their original project. The development of the new Mass Effect is being led by series veterans including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley.

This restructuring news follows EA's recent announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of its player targets by nearly 50%, which, along with weaker-than-expected results from EA Sports FC 25, prompted the company to adjust its fiscal year guidance. EA is scheduled to discuss these developments further during its Q3 earnings conference call on February 4.