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

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 restructuring that prioritizes the next Mass Effect game. Bloomberg reported BioWare employed over 200 people two years ago, during The Veilguard's peak development.

EA's restructuring last week focused BioWare solely on Mass Effect 5. Consequently, some The Veilguard team members transitioned to other EA studios. For example, The Veilguard's creative director, John Epler, moved to Full Circle to work on the Skate game, and senior writer Sheryl Chee joined Motive's Iron Man project. These moves, initially described as temporary, are now permanent reassignments.

Following EA's announcement of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's underperformance (1.5 million players engaged, significantly below projections), additional layoffs occurred. Several BioWare developers publicly confirmed their departures, including 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 2023 layoffs and the departure of The Veilguard director Corinne Busche last month.

EA's response to inquiries about the impact of these changes was vague, stating the studio has the "right number of people in the right roles" for Mass Effect's development. Bloomberg estimates approximately two dozen layoffs. BioWare staff reportedly consider The Veilguard's completion a feat, given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed. IGN previously reported on The Veilguard's development challenges, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel.

A former BioWare writer offered a message of hope to Dragon Age fans, stating, “Dragon Age isn't dead because it's yours now.” EA confirmed 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.