BioWare's Mass Effect 5: Staff Shifted as Support Decreases

In a recent announcement, EA is restructuring BioWare, the studio known for the beloved Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises. This shift aims to streamline development processes, emphasizing the production of the next Mass Effect game while moving some developers onto other EA projects. General manager Gary McKay stated that the studio no longer requires support from the entire team for the ongoing phases of development, allowing for a reorganization of talent. A portion of the Dragon Age team faces layoffs, coinciding with the underwhelming performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly missed its player engagement targets by nearly 50%. This restructuring comes amid continuing changes within BioWare, which has been dealing with repeated staff turnover and layoffs in recent years.

BioWare's current focus after the restructuring is on the development of the next installment in the Mass Effect series, following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The studio is prioritizing one game at a time to optimize its resources and talent.

Mass Effect is a critically acclaimed sci-fi RPG series known for its rich storytelling and character development. The franchise originally debuted in 2007 and has since garnered a loyal fanbase and multiple awards. After a successful remaster of the original trilogy in 2021, anticipation grows for the next chapter in the Mass Effect saga, which has been in development since it was first announced four years ago. BioWare aims to leverage its veteran developers to deliver a game that meets the high expectations of fans.