"Mass Effect 5: BioWare Adjusts Team, No Full Studio Support Needed"

EA has recently announced significant changes to the structure of BioWare, the studio behind the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. In a blog post by general manager Gary McKay, it was revealed that the studio is undergoing a transformation in how it operates, especially as it transitions between major development cycles. The focus is now shifting entirely to the upcoming Mass Effect game, prompting the reassignment of numerous BioWare developers to other projects within EA.

McKay emphasized that the current phase of Mass Effect's development does not require the full capacity of the studio. He noted, "Given this stage of development, we don’t require support from the full studio. We have incredible talent here at BioWare, and so we have worked diligently over the past few months to match many of our colleagues with other teams at EA that had open roles that were a strong fit." This move indicates a strategic reallocation of resources to better align with the studio's immediate goals.

IGN has reported that an unspecified number of BioWare developers have already been transitioned into equivalent roles elsewhere within EA. However, a smaller group of developers from the Dragon Age team will see their positions terminated, though they are being given the opportunity to apply for other roles within the company.

BioWare's organizational structure has been in flux in recent years, with layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile exits, including director Corinne Busche's departure last week during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The exact number of current BioWare employees remains unclear. EA did not disclose specifics when asked by IGN about the number of affected individuals, those facing potential layoffs, and those remaining at the studio. However, an EA spokesperson commented, "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."

The new Mass Effect project, announced four years ago, remains in its early stages. BioWare's strategy now emphasizes concentrating on one game at a time. Developers who were previously shifted from Mass Effect to Dragon Age to help complete that project are now returning to work on Mass Effect. The development of the next Mass Effect is being led by series veterans such as Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley.

This restructuring follows last week's announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of its player targets by nearly 50%, leading EA to adjust its fiscal year guidance. This adjustment was also influenced by weaker-than-expected results from EA Sports FC 25. EA is set to discuss these developments further during its Q3 earnings conference call on February 4.