Dragon Age: The Veilguard Dev BioWare Reportedly Down to Fewer Than 100 Employees Following Layoffs and Staff Exits

BioWare, the renowned game development studio, has seen a significant reduction in its workforce, now reportedly consisting of fewer than 100 employees. This comes after a series of layoffs and staff departures following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a strategic shift to focus exclusively on the next installment of the Mass Effect series.

Just two years ago, during the peak of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's development, BioWare had over 200 employees, according to Bloomberg. However, recent changes at EA have led to a restructuring that has drastically altered the studio's composition. Last week, EA announced that BioWare would now concentrate solely on Mass Effect 5, resulting in some staff members being reassigned to other EA projects. Notably, John Epler, the creative director of Veilguard, has been moved to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate, while senior writer Sheryl Chee has transitioned to work on Iron Man at Motive Studio.

The decision to refocus BioWare's efforts comes after Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed to meet EA's sales expectations. The game reportedly engaged only 1.5 million players in the recent financial quarter, a figure that fell short of the company's projections by nearly 50%. Bloomberg has clarified that these staff reassignments are now permanent, and those working on other EA projects are no longer considered BioWare employees.

In the wake of these changes, several BioWare developers have taken to social media to announce their layoffs and search for new opportunities. Among those affected are editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm. This follows a previous round of layoffs at BioWare in 2023 and the recent departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche.

When asked by IGN about the specifics of the layoffs and the current state of BioWare, EA provided a vague response, stating that the studio's priority had been Dragon Age and that it now has the "right number of people in the right roles" to focus on Mass Effect. Bloomberg reported that approximately two dozen individuals were affected by the latest layoffs, with some staff members expressing relief that Dragon Age: The Veilguard was released as a complete game despite the challenges of integrating and then abandoning live-service elements.

As fans of the Dragon Age series express concern over its future, a former BioWare writer offered reassurance, stating, "Dragon Age isn't dead because it's yours now." Meanwhile, EA has confirmed that a "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley, is currently developing the next Mass Effect game.