Mass Effect 5: EA Shifts Resources, No Full Studio Required

EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing Solely 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 EA projects and concentrating all remaining resources on the upcoming Mass Effect game.

In a blog post, BioWare general manager Gary McKay explained that the studio is using the period between development cycles to "reimagine how we work." He stated that the current Mass Effect development phase doesn't require the entire studio's support. McKay confirmed that many BioWare employees have transitioned to other suitable roles within EA. While some Dragon Age team members have been let go, they've been offered the opportunity to apply for other positions within the company.

BioWare has undergone significant structural changes in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The recent departure of director Corinne Busche is one such example. EA declined to provide specific numbers regarding the impact of the restructuring on BioWare's workforce, but confirmed that the studio is now appropriately staffed for the current Mass Effect development stage. A spokesperson stated that the studio's focus has shifted from Dragon Age to Mass Effect following the release of The Veilguard.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages of development. BioWare's current strategy prioritizes a single game at a time. This involves shifting developers between projects as needed; some developers who previously worked on Mass Effect were temporarily assigned to Dragon Age to ensure its completion and are now returning to the Mass Effect team. 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 acquisition targets (by almost 50%) and subsequently lowered its fiscal year guidance. This, coupled with underperforming results from EA Sports FC 25, prompted the restructuring. EA will discuss its Q3 earnings on February 4th.