《质量效应5》开发商BioWare无需全部工作室支持

EA Restructures BioWare, Focusing Entirely on Next Mass Effect Game

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced a restructuring of BioWare, the studio behind the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. The restructuring involves reassigning a number of developers to other EA projects and concentrating all remaining resources on the upcoming Mass Effect game.

In a blog post, BioWare general manager Gary McKay explained the studio is "reimagining how we work" between development cycles. He stated that the current stage of Mass Effect development doesn't require the entire studio's workforce. Many BioWare employees have been transitioned to other suitable roles within EA. A smaller number of Dragon Age team members have faced role termination, with the option to apply for other positions within the company.

BioWare has undergone significant structural changes in recent years, including layoffs in 2023 and several high-profile departures, most recently director Corinne Busche. The current employee count at BioWare remains undisclosed. While EA didn't provide specific numbers regarding the impact of the restructuring, a spokesperson confirmed the studio is appropriately staffed for the current phase of Mass Effect development, prioritizing its full focus on this title following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The spokesperson emphasized that the studio’s priority shifted from Dragon Age to Mass Effect.

The new Mass Effect game, announced four years ago, is still in its early stages. BioWare's strategy now involves prioritizing one game at a time. Some developers previously assigned to Mass Effect were temporarily transferred to Dragon Age to complete that project and are now returning to the Mass Effect team. Veteran developers Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley are leading the Mass Effect development.

This announcement follows EA's recent revelation that Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed player targets by approximately 50%, contributing to a lowered fiscal year guidance. EA's Q3 earnings conference call is scheduled for February 4.