Dragon Age Team Laid Off as BioWare Shifts to Mass Effect

BioWare is shifting its focus from the recently released Dragon Age: The Veilguard to the next installment of the Mass Effect franchise. Several key developers have announced their departures from the studio as it reorganizes to divert resources toward Mass Effect 5. The transition comes after a disappointing performance for The Veilguard, which fell short of EA's sales expectations by 50%, managing only 1.5 million players, half of the anticipated 3 million. Despite the departures, BioWare is retaining a core team to ensure the development of Mass Effect under the guidance of veterans from the original trilogy.

The restructuring at BioWare was driven by the decision to concentrate on the development of Mass Effect 5 following the underwhelming release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which did not meet sales targets and will not receive post-launch DLC.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard marked the long-awaited return of the beloved fantasy RPG series, arriving after a decade-long hiatus. Despite high expectations, it struggled with various development challenges throughout its lifecycle, resulting in a less-than-stellar launch and overall reception. The Mass Effect series, known for its rich storytelling and deep character developments, remains one of BioWare's most renowned franchises, and the company appears committed to delivering a sequel that resonates with fans of the original games.