Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following studio 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. 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. Several BioWare developers subsequently announced their departures 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 impacted employees, their statement confirmed a shift in focus to Mass Effect 5 with a team deemed sufficient for the current development stage.
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 lacked significant fanfare, further compounded by BioWare's announcement that no post-launch DLC was planned, disappointing fans. EA subsequently admitted that sales fell drastically short of projections, reaching only 1.5 million players compared to the anticipated three million. The game's troubled development, including previous layoffs and the departure of key personnel, has been previously documented.
Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a core team of Mass Effect veterans, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others, are leading the development of the next Mass Effect game.
