BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard Team Shrinks Below 100 After Layoffs

BioWare, the renowned game developer behind the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, has reportedly shrunk to fewer than 100 employees following a series of layoffs and staff exits. This downsizing comes after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a strategic shift to focus solely on the upcoming Mass Effect game. Just two years ago, during the peak of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's development, BioWare boasted over 200 staff members, according to Bloomberg.

Last week, EA announced a significant restructuring of BioWare, redirecting its efforts exclusively to Mass Effect 5. As a result, some team members who contributed to Dragon Age: The Veilguard have been reassigned to other EA studios. Notably, John Epler, the creative director for Veilguard, has transitioned to work on Full Circle's skateboarding game Skate, while senior writer Sheryl Chee has moved to Motive Studio to work on their Iron Man project.

The decision to pivot followed EA's revelation that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not meet the company's sales expectations. EA disclosed that the game engaged only 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter, falling short by nearly 50% of what was projected.

Bloomberg reports that these staff reassignments are now permanent, with the affected employees no longer considered part of BioWare but fully integrated into their new studios within EA. Additionally, several BioWare developers have publicly announced their layoffs and are currently seeking new employment opportunities. Notable among them are editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm.

This is not the first time BioWare has faced such challenges; the studio experienced layoffs in 2023, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard's director, Corinne Busche, announced her departure last month. When asked about the specifics of the latest layoffs and staff numbers, EA provided a vague response, stating that BioWare now has the "right number of people in the right roles" to focus on Mass Effect.

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier noted that the layoffs impacted approximately two dozen individuals at BioWare. Schreier also highlighted the challenging development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly faced significant hurdles due to EA's initial push for a live-service model that was later abandoned.

Amidst concerns from Dragon Age fans about the series' future, a former BioWare writer offered reassurance, stating, "Dragon Age isn't dead because it's yours now." Meanwhile, EA has confirmed that a dedicated "core team" at BioWare is actively working on the next Mass Effect game, led by veterans from the original trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others.