Dragon Age Developers Reveal They’ve Been Laid Off After BioWare Puts ‘Full Focus’ on Mass Effect

Key Dragon Age developers have announced their departure from BioWare following a studio restructuring focused on the next Mass Effect game. On January 29th, IGN reported BioWare had reassigned numerous developers to other EA projects, leaving its full attention on Mass Effect 5. General manager Gary McKay explained this realignment as an opportunity to "reimagine how we work" between development cycles, stating that the full studio wasn't needed for the current Mass Effect development phase. While many BioWare employees transitioned to other roles within EA, some Dragon Age team members faced termination, with the option to apply for internal positions.

Several BioWare developers subsequently announced their departures on social media, including 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 2023 layoffs and the recent exit of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche.

EA’s response to inquiries regarding the impact of these changes remained vague, only stating that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current Mass Effect development phase. The recent completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which lacked post-launch DLC despite fan expectations, further underscores the situation. EA previously acknowledged the game's significant shortfall in sales expectations (50% below the projected three million players, reaching only 1.5 million). The game's development was already hampered by previous layoffs and the departure of several key personnel, as previously reported.

In contrast to the Dragon Age situation, EA confirmed that a core team of Mass Effect veterans, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, are leading development on the next Mass Effect title.