BioWare, the renowned game development studio, has reportedly been reduced to fewer than 100 employees following significant layoffs and staff departures after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Just two years ago, during the peak production of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare boasted over 200 employees, according to Bloomberg.
In a recent restructuring move, EA has shifted BioWare's focus exclusively to the development of Mass Effect 5. This strategic pivot led to the relocation of some Dragon Age: The Veilguard team members to other EA projects. Notably, John Epler, the creative director for Veilguard, has transitioned to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. Similarly, senior writer Sheryl Chee has moved to Motive Studio to contribute to the Iron Man project.
The decision to refocus came on the heels of Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperforming against EA's expectations. The game managed to engage 1.5 million players in the recent financial quarter, which fell short of the company's projections by nearly 50%.
Bloomberg reported that these staff relocations are now permanent, and those moved to other EA studios are no longer considered BioWare employees. In addition to these shifts, several BioWare developers have publicly announced their layoffs and are actively seeking new opportunities. Notable departures include editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm.
This latest round of changes follows a previous round of layoffs at BioWare in 2023, and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche. When asked by IGN for details on the number of affected employees, EA provided a vague response, stating:
"The studio's priority was Dragon Age. During this time there were people continuing to build the vision for the next Mass Effect. Now that The Veilguard has shipped, the studio's full focus is Mass Effect. While we're not sharing numbers, the studio has the right number of people in the right roles to work on Mass Effect at this stage of development."
Bloomberg reported that approximately two dozen employees were affected by the layoffs. Jason Schreier noted that BioWare staff considered it a "miracle" that Dragon Age: The Veilguard was released as a complete game, especially after EA's fluctuating directives regarding live-service elements. IGN has previously covered the development challenges faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs and the departure of several key project leads.
Amid concerns from Dragon Age fans about the future of the series, a former BioWare writer offered reassurance, stating, "Dragon Age isn't dead because it's yours now."
On the Mass Effect front, EA confirmed that a dedicated "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original trilogy such as Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, is currently developing the next installment in the franchise.
