BioWare inexplicably lays off staff as it refocuses on the next Mass Effect

BioWare lays off staff amid Mass Effect refocus, raising industry concerns.

: BioWare has laid off around two dozen staff as it shifts focus to the next installment of Mass Effect, still in pre-production since its 2021 teaser. This move aligns with permanent reassignments to other EA projects, surprising many, including writer Trick Weekes and producer Jen Cheverie. These changes follow Dragon Age: The Veilguard's lackluster sales, meeting only half of EA's expectations, heightening concerns about BioWare's future.

BioWare has unexpectedly laid off about two dozen employees and reassigned additional staff within EA, aligning with a strategy to focus more efficiently on the upcoming Mass Effect title, which is still in pre-production despite initial reveals in 2021. The restructuring included the permanent transfer of several developers to other projects within EA, surprising key team members like Trick Weekes and Jen Cheverie.

These layoffs occurred following the recent release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which achieved significant initial player engagement but failed to meet EA's sales expectations by nearly half. The game's underperformance has led EA to revise its financial projections, casting doubt on BioWare's ability to meet the challenges of future projects, including the next Mass Effect.

The downsizing seems counterintuitive, as development phases often require increased hiring rather than layoffs. This financial and structural pressure from EA adds to fan concerns about BioWare's direction and ability to deliver on high expectations, especially with an already strained industry backdrop shown by recent studio closures.