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 that the studio is using the period between major development cycles to "reimagine how we work." He stated that the current Mass Effect development phase doesn't require the entire studio's workforce. Many BioWare employees have been transitioned to other suitable roles within EA. A smaller number of Dragon Age team members have faced job termination, but are being offered opportunities to apply for internal positions.

BioWare's organizational structure has undergone significant 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 employee count at BioWare remains undisclosed. While EA declined to provide specific numbers regarding impacted employees or those remaining at the studio, a spokesperson confirmed that the studio's focus has shifted entirely to Mass Effect following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They emphasized that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early stages. BioWare's strategy now prioritizes a single project at a time. Some developers previously working 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 restructuring follows EA's recent announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed player acquisition targets by almost 50%, contributing to a lowered fiscal year outlook, alongside underperforming results from EA Sports FC 25. EA's Q3 earnings call is scheduled for February 4.