EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing on Upcoming 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 several developers to other EA projects and concentrating all remaining resources on the next Mass Effect game.
In a blog post, BioWare general manager Gary McKay explained the decision as a strategic realignment during the gap between major development cycles. He stated that the studio's current needs don't require its full workforce 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 a number of BioWare developers have been moved to different positions within the company. A smaller number of Dragon Age team members have faced job termination, with the option to apply for other internal positions.
This restructuring follows previous layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures, including the recent announcement of director Corinne Busche's resignation. BioWare's organizational structure has undergone significant changes in recent years.
EA's statement emphasized that the studio's focus is now solely on the next Mass Effect game, which was announced four years ago and is still in early development. The company confirmed that veteran developers Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley are leading the Mass Effect project. The strategy, according to sources, is to prioritize one game at a time, with some developers who previously assisted with Dragon Age: The Veilguard now returning to Mass Effect.
This announcement comes after EA revealed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard significantly missed player acquisition targets (by almost 50%), impacting the company's fiscal year guidance alongside underperforming EA Sports FC 25 results. EA will discuss these financial results further in their Q3 earnings call on February 4th.
