Key Dragon Age developers have announced their departure from BioWare following a studio restructuring that prioritizes the development of the next Mass Effect game. On January 29th, IGN reported that BioWare reassigned numerous developers to other EA projects, focusing its resources entirely on Mass Effect 5. General manager Gary McKay explained that this realignment, occurring between major development cycles, allows the studio to "reimagine how we work," stating that the full studio’s support wasn't needed for the current Mass Effect development phase. Many BioWare employees were successfully transitioned to other suitable roles within EA. However, some Dragon Age team members faced termination, with the option to apply for internal positions.
Following this announcement, several BioWare developers publicly shared their departures on social media. This includes editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard Patrick Weekes, and editor Ryan Cormier, all of whom are seeking new employment. Producer Jen Cheverie and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm also confirmed their exits. These departures follow previous layoffs in 2023 and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche.
EA's response to inquiries regarding the number of affected individuals remained vague. They emphasized that the studio's focus has shifted from Dragon Age to Mass Effect, stating they have the appropriate personnel for the current stage of Mass Effect development, but declined to provide specific numbers.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new entry in the fantasy RPG series in a decade, concluded its development last week with what appeared to be its final major update. The game's launch was marked by the unexpected announcement of no post-launch DLC, disappointing fans who anticipated expansions. EA later admitted that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell significantly short of sales expectations, achieving only 1.5 million players compared to the projected three million. The game’s development was previously documented as facing challenges including layoffs and the departure of several key personnel.
EA confirmed that a core team at BioWare, led by veterans of the original Mass Effect trilogy (including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley), is now fully dedicated to the development of the next Mass Effect game.
