Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following restructuring for Mass Effect 5.
On January 29th, IGN reported BioWare's internal restructuring, shifting developers to other EA projects to fully concentrate on Mass Effect 5. General manager Gary McKay stated the studio is "reimagining how we work" between development cycles, and that the full studio's support wasn't currently needed for the Mass Effect project. McKay confirmed that many employees were successfully placed within EA, but a smaller number of Dragon Age team members faced termination, with the option to apply for other internal roles.
Subsequently, several BioWare developers announced their departure via social media. This includes 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 number of affected individuals remained vague, stating that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development. They confirmed that the studio's focus has shifted entirely to Mass Effect 5 following the completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new entry in the franchise in a decade, concluded its development last week with a final update and no planned post-launch DLC. This followed EA's admission that the game's sales fell significantly short of projections, reaching only 1.5 million players against a target of three million. The game's development had already been marked by challenges, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel.
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.
