BioWare Eliminating 50 Roles, Shifting Towards “More Agile and Focused Studio”

It's to "preserve the health of the studio" and form a "clear vision of what we’re building before development ramps up," per GM Gary McKay.

Dragon Age and Mass Effect developer BioWare shared an update today on its projects while confirming that it was eliminating approximately 50 roles at the studio. It’s part of the shift towards a “more agile and more focused studio” where developers can “iterate quickly, unlock more creativity, and form a clear vision of what we’re building before development ramps up.”

General manager Gary McKay said the team built a “long-term vision” to “preserve the health of the studio and better enable us to do what we do best: create exceptional story-driven single-player experiences filled with vast worlds and rich characters.” It balances the studio’s current needs, like Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, with the future, specifically the next Mass Effect.

McKay confirmed that those impacted are being provided internal opportunities to coincide with various roles that have opened through other studios under Electronic Arts. He noted that not everyone will find new roles, but BioWare is committed to supporting them throughout. “Our sincere hope is that they can continue their exemplary work at studios that stand to benefit immensely from their talents.”

Stay tuned for updates on its current projects, though Electronic Arts’ quarterly fiscal report in May confirmed that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is not launching until after April 2024. The developer said it continued to “build, polish, and tune” the game and promised more details “soon.” The upcoming fantasy RPG hit alpha last year in October and is playable from start to finish.

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