Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following Mass Effect 5 focus.
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. While many BioWare employees were successfully placed in suitable roles within EA, a smaller number of Dragon Age team members faced termination, with the option to apply for other internal positions.
Several BioWare developers subsequently announced their departures via social media. This includes editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm. These departures follow BioWare's 2023 layoffs and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche.
EA's response to inquiries regarding the number of affected employees remained vague, emphasizing the sufficient staffing for the current Mass Effect 5 development phase. They confirmed the studio's priority had shifted from Dragon Age to Mass Effect following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new entry in the franchise in a decade, concluded its development last week with what appeared to be its final major update. The game's underwhelming performance, including the absence of post-launch DLC and a 50% shortfall in sales expectations (1.5 million players versus a projected 3 million), has been widely documented. Previous reports highlighted development challenges, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel.
Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a core team of veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, are leading the development of the next Mass Effect game.
