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 the decision as a strategic realignment during a period between major development cycles. He stated that the studio's full capacity isn't currently needed for the Mass Effect project and that many employees have been successfully placed in suitable roles within other EA teams.

While EA hasn't disclosed specific numbers, it's understood that some Dragon Age team members have been let go, with the option to apply for other positions within the company. This follows previous layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures, including the recent announcement of director Corinne Busche's departure.

EA emphasized that BioWare now has the appropriate staffing for the current phase of Mass Effect development. The new Mass Effect title, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages. BioWare's strategy is to focus on one game at a time, with some developers who previously assisted with Mass Effect having been temporarily assigned to Dragon Age and now returning to the Mass Effect team. Veteran developers Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley are leading the Mass Effect project.

This restructuring follows EA's recent announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard significantly missed player acquisition targets (by nearly 50%), impacting the company's fiscal year guidance. EA will discuss these results further during its Q3 earnings call on February 4.