EA has announced a significant restructuring at BioWare, the studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect, shifting its focus entirely to the upcoming Mass Effect game. In a blog post, BioWare's general manager Gary McKay stated that the studio is "taking this opportunity between full development cycles to reimagine how we work at BioWare." As a result, numerous developers are being reassigned to other projects within EA, as the current stage of Mass Effect's development does not require the full studio's support.

McKay emphasized the talent at BioWare, noting that the studio has worked to place many colleagues in suitable roles across EA over the past few months. While some developers have been moved to equivalent positions within the company, a smaller group from the Dragon Age team faces termination. These individuals are given the opportunity to apply for other roles within EA.

BioWare has experienced multiple structural changes in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Notably, director Corinne Busche announced her departure last week. The exact number of current BioWare employees remains unclear, and EA has not provided specific figures on the impact of these changes, the number of potential layoffs, or the remaining staff at the studio. An EA spokesperson, however, confirmed that "the studio has the right number of people in the right roles to work on Mass Effect at this stage of development."

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early development phase. BioWare's strategy now involves focusing on one game at a time. Some developers who were previously working on Mass Effect were temporarily reassigned to Dragon Age to ensure its completion and are now returning to Mass Effect. The project is being led by series veterans including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley.

This restructuring follows last week's announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of its player targets by nearly 50%, prompting EA to adjust its fiscal year guidance. Additionally, weaker-than-expected results from EA Sports FC 25 contributed to this decision. EA is scheduled to discuss its Q3 earnings on February 4.