Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following Mass Effect 5 focus.

On January 29th, IGN reported that BioWare has reassigned numerous developers to other EA projects, shifting its complete focus to Mass Effect 5. General manager Gary McKay explained this restructuring as a strategic move to "reimagine how we work" between development cycles, stating that the full studio's support wasn't currently needed for the Mass Effect project. 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.

This news prompted several prominent BioWare developers to announce their departure on social media. Among those leaving are editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard Trick Weekes, and editor Ryan Cormier. Producer Jen Cheverie and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm also confirmed their exits.

This follows previous layoffs in 2023 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 that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current Mass Effect development phase.

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 notably underwhelming, marked by BioWare's confirmation of no post-launch DLC, a decision that disappointed fans. EA subsequently admitted that Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed sales projections by a significant 50%, achieving only 1.5 million players against a target of 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, and Parrish Ley), is developing the next Mass Effect game.