"Mass Effect 5: BioWare Continues Development, EA Shifts Some Staff"

Electronic Arts (EA) has revealed significant changes at BioWare, the studio behind the iconic Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. In a strategic shift, EA is moving several BioWare developers to other projects within the company and is now focusing exclusively on the upcoming Mass Effect game. This move comes as BioWare transitions between major development cycles, prompting a reevaluation of its operational model.

In a statement from BioWare's general manager Gary McKay, he highlighted the studio's decision to "reimagine how we work at BioWare" during this interim period. McKay emphasized that, at the current stage of development, the full studio's support is not necessary for the Mass Effect project. To optimize talent allocation, BioWare has been working over the past few months to transition many of its team members to other suitable roles within EA.

IGN reports that an unspecified number of BioWare developers have already been reassigned to equivalent roles elsewhere within EA. However, a smaller group of developers, primarily from the Dragon Age team, are facing termination. These individuals are being offered the opportunity to apply for other positions within the company.

BioWare has experienced several structural changes in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and the departure of key figures such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche, who left the studio just last week. The exact number of employees currently at BioWare remains unclear. When asked by IGN for more details on the impact of these changes, EA refrained from providing specific figures. However, an EA spokesperson stated:

"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 next installment in the Mass Effect series, announced four years ago, is still in its early development phase. BioWare's strategy now emphasizes focusing on one major project at a time. Developers who were temporarily reassigned to Dragon Age to ensure its completion are now returning to work on Mass Effect. The project is being led by experienced team members including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley.

This announcement follows closely on the heels of EA's disclosure that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of its player targets by nearly 50%. This, combined with disappointing sales from EA Sports FC 25, led EA to adjust its fiscal year guidance. The company is scheduled to discuss its Q3 earnings on February 4.