BioWare Cuts Workforce in Major Restructuring Focused on Mass Effect
The studio has downsized to fewer than 100 employees following layoffs and permanent staff relocations after Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperformed.
Overview
- BioWare has laid off over 20 employees and permanently reassigned numerous others to EA's internal teams, reducing its workforce to under 100 people.
- The restructuring follows the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which sold 1.5 million units, falling 50% short of EA's sales expectations.
- Mass Effect 5 remains in pre-production, with a core team of veterans from the original trilogy leading its development.
- The affected employees, initially reassigned temporarily, were informed their relocations to other EA studios are now permanent, requiring reapplication to return to BioWare.
- BioWare's downsizing reflects a decade of challenges, including underperforming titles like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda, raising concerns about the studio's future stability.