BioWare's Dragon Age: Veilguard Team Shrinks to Under 100

BioWare's workforce has reportedly shrunk to under 100 employees following recent layoffs and departures. This significant reduction comes after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a company restructuring to prioritize the next Mass Effect game. Two years ago, during the height of The Veilguard's production, BioWare employed over 200 people, according to Bloomberg.

Last week's EA restructuring, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, resulted in some The Veilguard staff being transferred to other EA studios. For example, The Veilguard's creative director, John Epler, moved to Full Circle to work on the upcoming Skate game, while senior writer Sheryl Chee transitioned to Motive's Iron Man project. These transfers, initially described as temporary "loans," are now permanent relocations, meaning these individuals are no longer considered BioWare employees.

Additionally, several BioWare developers have confirmed layoffs on social media. Among those publicly seeking new employment are editor Karin West-Weekes, narrative designer and lead writer Trick Weekes, editor Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and senior systems designer Michelle Flamm. These departures follow earlier layoffs in 2023 and the departure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche last month.

EA's response to inquiries regarding the exact number of impacted employees remained vague, stating only that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development. Bloomberg, however, reported approximately two dozen layoffs. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff view the completion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard as a remarkable achievement, given the challenges imposed by EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed. IGN has previously documented The Veilguard's troubled development, including prior layoffs and the departure of several key personnel.

The underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which EA reported engaged 1.5 million players (significantly below projections), fueled these changes. Concerns about the future of the Dragon Age franchise are growing among fans, with a former BioWare writer offering a poignant comment: “Dragon Age isn't dead because it's yours now.”

Meanwhile, EA confirmed that a core team at BioWare, led by veterans of the original Mass Effect trilogy (including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley), is developing the next Mass Effect game.