Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following restructuring for Mass Effect 5.
On January 29th, IGN reported that BioWare had reassigned numerous developers to other EA projects, shifting its complete focus to Mass Effect 5. General manager Gary McKay explained this restructuring as an opportunity to "reimagine how we work" between development cycles, stating that the full studio's support wasn't currently needed for Mass Effect 5's development. McKay confirmed that many employees were successfully placed in suitable roles within EA.
However, a smaller number of Dragon Age team members faced termination, with the option to apply for other internal positions. Subsequently, several BioWare developers announced their departure on social media, including editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer Patrick Weekes, and editor Ryan Cormier. Producer Jen Cheverie and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm also confirmed their exits.
This follows 2023 layoffs and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche. While EA didn't provide specific numbers regarding the impact of the restructuring, their statement confirmed a shift in focus to Mass Effect 5, implying a reduction in BioWare's Dragon Age team. The statement also highlighted that the studio now has the appropriate personnel for the current phase of Mass Effect 5 development.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new entry in the series in a decade, concluded its development last week with what appeared to be its final major update. The game's launch was underwhelming, with BioWare confirming no post-launch DLC, a significant departure from previous Dragon Age titles. EA further admitted that sales fell short of expectations by 50%, reaching only 1.5 million players instead of the projected three million. The game's troubled development has been previously documented, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel.
Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a core team at BioWare, led by veterans of the original Mass Effect trilogy (including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others), is developing the next Mass Effect game.
