BioWare shrinks to a core team as Mass Effect development begins
Summary
BioWare is restructuring post-Dragon Age: The Veilguard launch
Staff redistributed across EA studios or laid off as Mass Effect enters early development
Studio pivoting to leaner, franchise-focused model after Veilguard underperformed
"The studio's full focus is Mass Effect"
01
Studio restructuring underway
"Many" BioWare developers reassigned to other EA studios in equivalent roles
A "small" number of Dragon Age developers have been laid off
Veilguard creative director John Epler reassigned to Full Circle's Skate
EA has not disclosed exact headcount impacted
02
Veilguard's underwhelming exit triggers the shift
Game reached 1.5M players in its first two months
That figure fell ~50% below EA's internal sales projections
Director Corrine Busche voluntarily departed BioWare in January
Weak commercial performance accelerated the studio reset
03
Next Mass Effect now takes center stage
Early development led by a "core team" of franchise veterans
Producer Mike Gamble and designer Preston Watamaniuk confirmed as leads
Current project scope does not yet require full studio support
"Will see BioWare become a more agile, focused studio"
04
What's next
BioWare's headcount will likely remain lean through early Mass Effect development
Studio previously offloaded Star Wars: The Old Republic to Broadsword Entertainment to sharpen franchise focus
All attention now on whether a scaled-down BioWare can recapture the Mass Effect franchise's former commercial weight
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