Key Dragon Age developers depart BioWare following Mass Effect 5 focus shift.
On January 29th, IGN reported that BioWare, in its complete transition to Mass Effect 5 development, reassigned numerous developers to other EA projects. General manager Gary McKay explained this restructuring as an opportunity to "reimagine how we work" between development cycles, stating the full studio's support wasn't currently needed for Mass Effect 5. 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 high-profile BioWare departures. Editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer Patrick Weekes, and editor Ryan Cormier publicly announced their job searches. Producer Jen Cheverie and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm also confirmed their exits. These departures follow BioWare's 2023 layoffs and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche.
EA's response to inquiries regarding the impact of these changes remained vague, offering no specifics on the number of affected individuals or those remaining at BioWare. They emphasized the studio's current focus on Mass Effect 5, stating they have the necessary personnel for this stage of development.
The recent release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new entry in the franchise in a decade, concluded with what appeared to be its final major update. The game's underperformance, including the absence of post-launch DLC and a reported 50% shortfall in sales expectations (1.5 million players versus the projected 3 million), has been widely documented. Previous reports detailed development challenges, 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, Parrish Ley, and others), is spearheading the development of the next Mass Effect game.
