Mass Effect 5: BioWare's New Strategy Unveiled

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 projects within EA, with the studio now fully concentrating its efforts on the upcoming Mass Effect game.

In a blog post, BioWare general manager Gary McKay explained the decision as a strategic move to "reimagine how we work at BioWare" between major development cycles. He stated that the current Mass Effect development phase doesn't require the studio's full capacity. Many BioWare employees have been transitioned to other suitable roles within EA.

While EA hasn't disclosed exact numbers, it's understood that some Dragon Age team members have been laid off, 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 departure.

EA emphasized that BioWare now possesses the appropriate staffing for the current Mass Effect development stage. The new Mass Effect title, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages. BioWare's strategy is to prioritize a single game at a time, with some developers who previously assisted with Dragon Age: The Veilguard's completion 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 expectations (by almost 50%) and contributed to a lowered fiscal year outlook. EA will discuss its Q3 earnings on February 4.