BioWare's Dragon Age Team Dwindles to Under 100

BioWare's workforce has reportedly shrunk to under 100 employees following recent layoffs and departures, a significant reduction from the over 200 employees it boasted two years ago during Dragon Age: The Veilguard's development. This downsizing comes after EA restructured BioWare to concentrate solely on the next Mass Effect title.

Bloomberg reports that Dragon Age: The Veilguard's underperformance prompted the restructuring. EA's stated player engagement of 1.5 million fell considerably short of projections, resulting in the transfer of some Veilguard staff to other EA studios – a move now characterized as permanent relocations rather than temporary assignments. Several key figures, including creative director John Epler (to Full Circle's Skate), senior writer Sheryl Chee (to Motive's Iron Man), and numerous other developers, have confirmed their departures, some through layoffs and others through voluntary exits. This includes prominent figures such as editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm. These departures follow earlier layoffs in 2023 and the departure of director Corinne Busche last month.

EA's response to inquiries regarding the exact number of impacted employees remained vague, stating only that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development. Bloomberg, however, estimates the recent layoffs affected roughly two dozen individuals. Industry sources suggest that the successful completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard was a considerable achievement given the reported challenges during its development, including imposed and then reversed live-service elements and previous staff reductions.

While the future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain, sparking concern among fans, one former BioWare writer offered a message of reassurance, suggesting the series' fate is now in the hands of the community. Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a core team of veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, are leading the development of the next Mass Effect game at BioWare.