BioWare inexplicably lays off staff as it refocuses on the next Mass Effect

[Cal Jeffrey]

In a nutshell: BioWare has laid off approximately two dozen staff and reassigned many others to various posts within parent company EA. This decision aligns with BioWare's strategy to become "more agile" as it shifts focus to the next installment of the Mass Effect series, which is still in early pre-production despite being teased in 2021.

Bloomberg notes that the move aligns with the studio's statement last year that it would "loan out" some of its developers to other projects within its parent company, including Iron Man and Skate. However, the studio announced that these loans are now permanent. This move came as a surprise, as did the release of the two dozen staff members, including writer Trick Weekes and producer Jen Cheverie. It leaves only a "core team" of just under 100 employees to work on the Mass Effect project BioWare teased well over two years ago.

I'm now looking for a new writing/narrative position. It's been a privilege to work with so many amazing devs over my 20 years at BioWare, and I will cherish the memories of the wonderful folks in the community I've met along the way. Thank you all.

– Trick Weekes (@trickweekes.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM

The layoffs come after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which debuted last Halloween. The game marked BioWare's return to the Dragon Age universe after a decade-long hiatus since Dragon Age: Inquisition. Veilguard broke BioWare's Steam records upon release, reaching approximately 70,414 concurrent players and pushing Mass Effect Legendary Edition (59,817) into second place.

Unfortunately, its initial success wasn't good enough for EA. The publisher reported that Veilguard sold around 1.5 million during Q4 2024 – nearly 50 percent shy of expectations – marking it a failure in EA's books. During a recent earnings call, CEO Andrew Wilson pointed to the game's shortfall as contributing to the company revising its financial projections.

After almost 14 years at BioWare, I am devastated to learn today that myself and others must seek new opportunities. I am so grateful for all of the learning, challenges, and most importantly the team. I will remember my time here with joy. Tomorrow we'll move forward. For today I will just be sad.

– Jen Cheverie (@jencheverie.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 5:44 PM

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's lukewarm reception raises concerns about BioWare's future projects, particularly the upcoming Mass Effect title. The studio has faced several hurdles in recent years, including the departure of key personnel and the cancellation of planned multiplayer elements in favor of single-player experiences. Veilguard's departure from a winning BioWare formula and these setbacks have led fans to wonder about the studio's direction and ability to deliver on expectations.

Laying off staff as the studio begins to ramp up production of the next Mass Effect seems counterintuitive. Usually, this is when developers go on a hiring spree. Obviously, EA is applying pressure to lower the studio's overhead, but this seems like a setup for failure.

BioWare must hit a home run with its next release to please its already agitated fanbase. The success of the next Mass Effect will be crucial in determining the developer's standing in the industry and within the EA umbrella. We've already seen several studios shuttered in 2024, including PlayStation London Studio, Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Games, and Firewalk Studios. We'd hate to see BioWare go down for another lackluster release.

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BioWare inexplicably lays off staff as it refocuses on the next Mass Effect

 

[Eldrach]

Well, maybe they should hand Mass Effect over to a studio with some actual passion for gaming. Imagine Larian working on it for instance..like…EA won’t do this, but it would’ve been cool if they did

 

[GodisanAtheist]

The best thing Veilguard could do is kill Bioware before it has a chance to go an retroactively screw-up one of the best game franchises in history with Mass Effect 4.

Say what you will about the shitcastle that was Andromeda, but at least they had the good sense to go to a completely different galaxy before making a crappy game.

If/When Bioware screws the pooch on ME4, it will damage the Milky Way storyline, which was wrapped up after ME3 with nowhere left to go as far as I'm concerned.

 

[m4a4]

The best thing Veilguard could do is kill Bioware before it has a chance to go an retroactively screw-up one of the best game franchises in history with Mass Effect 4.

Say what you will about the shitcastle that was Andromeda, but at least they had the good sense to go to a completely different galaxy before making a crappy game.

If/When Bioware screws the pooch on ME4, it will damage the Milky Way storyline, which was wrapped up after ME3 with nowhere left to go as far as I'm concerned.

The ME3 ending was actually the writing on the wall. Andromeda was never going to get near what ME3 should've been (as they lost the main people who made the trilogy up to the ending of ME3 great).

Which, I don't trust that they'll ever staff up with the right team of people again. They had their chance with Veilguard and proved they couldn't, on top of buying good coverage (deceitful tactics trying to convince gamers of a "return to form") for a game that couldn't hold a candle to the other DA games story-wise.

 

[Shear]

Focus on making a good game instead of virtue signaling. Maybe that will help.

 

[toooooot]

You know what was really wrong with Andromeda? It was not bugs, I did not find many, although I need to mention that I did not buy the game on release.
It was not visual imperfections, I found graphics to be on par with older game which I played beginning to end.
No, it wasn't it.
I felt it more than I saw or could logically recognize.
It was a spiritually dead game. Everything looked like before, but the feeling was completely different. I felt nothing to it. I stopped after 1h of gameplay. It did not give me the feeling I had playing previous games.
If I had a gift of writing, I could probably do a 20 page paper explaining everything that was wrong with the game. I think there is a review that is over 1 hour, it explains everything I felt but did not really understand it well enough to explain.
It was not made by pros, it lacked passion, it did not inspire me to explore and complete missions. It was dead on the inside, like some people are.
Here is a prediction. If they do not hire people who are 3-5 times better than those they just fired, it will fail miserably especially since so many people plaid first games and have very high expectations.
I watch an interview with one of now ex Bio employees. She said something like: "either this game (ME5) appeals to us, the minorities, or goes down." So, even after destroying the company, having failed multiple games, they care about their values rather than financial success. These people are true parasites who will destroy everything they touch. And I just find it a bit sad for those truly creative people who join these rotting companies hoping to create something beautiful only to sink with these activists. It is sad that hard work and creativity will die because of progressive fanatics.

 

[KingKappa]

Well, maybe they should hand Mass Effect over to a studio with some actual passion for gaming. Imagine Larian working on it for instance..like…EA won’t do this, but it would’ve been cool if they did

Larian said it's going to create it's own games for the foreseeable future, rather than being shackled by some other company.

 

[Ohnooze]

It feels so good knowing that the devs who worked in veilguard are concentrating on ME. I mean I just can't wait to see what they do next.

 

[DrSuess]

Downsizing as you head into full production is not a good sign

Sounds like someone is going to use generative AI in place of employees.

 

[Axeia]

You know what was really wrong with Andromeda? It was not bugs, I did not find many, although I need to mention that I did not buy the game on release.
It was not visual imperfections, I found graphics to be on par with older game which I played beginning to end.

Same here, thoroughly enjoyed ME1-3 and to be fair the ending of ME3 is my second biggest disappointment in entertainment (Game of Thrones takes the #1 spot).
I really wanted to see all the decisions I had made be reflected in who comes to the aid in the end, have some cool dialogue lines. Maybe even be called out for what were considered bad choices by some. Instead the end came in 3 different colors depending on what you told the god-child trope.
Man I still get annoyed at how bad the ending was after all these years.

I played Andromeda like you way after its release. I did run into the occasional weird bug but overall it wasn't bad as long as you didn't go in with the expectation of a Mass Effect game, it was generic instead of standing out.
I'd say its problem is modern writing and laziness imo. The modern writing tiptoes around everything never letting you make bold choices, no surprises... Everything is safe, non-confrontional.

When I went for another playthrough of ME3 just to see what terrible choices I could make I genuinely felt bad for killing Mordin. I don't see how anyone playing it would want to make those choices for real but having the option for it was great. Having to make tough choices sometimes were both outcomes are bad are great too (or hell like The Witcher 3 often does it where you think you're making a good choice but the consequences still being bad is great too). I guess what it lacks is grit, everything is too clean, safe.
Some of the renegade choices were just straight up funny to be honest. Don't like the press? Smack the reporter (the fact that was an option gave me a good laugh). Try to be a tough guy and drink ryncol (terrible, terrible idea).

I've always liked the Krogans being crude as well (if you don't, grow a quad and deal with it). With how safe a lot of modern games try to be I'm expecting ME4 to lack Krogans entirely or just have them dumbed down to gullible brutes or something, something safe and predictable. This bit (for which you needed some DLC iirc) is absolutely hilarious

In Andromeda nothing has depth to it, nothing challenges you to think about it, nothing makes you feel. Which in my opinion is where games can have a advantage over movies/series instead of just watching -you- make choices which makes -you- more invested, especially when they actually affect things. You're the one responsible (good or bad, preferably a bit of both).

Always being safe goes hand in hand with being lazy. Whatever dialogue options you pick it feels like they always lead to the same result (imo this is where cyberpunk falls short compared to the Witcher as well). Choices don't matter, they barely affect anything. It's why the ME3 end disappointed me so, you got choices to spare or destroy entire civilisations. Did it matter which choices you picked? Nope, just have a chat with the god child entity and pick your favourite colour.

Seeing at least one of the people being fired of the writing team gives some hope. Dragon Age Inquisition was alright, from everything what I've seen I don't even want to try The Veilguard.
Probably false hope though, I wouldn't be surprised if they use AI instead to write random tidbits of information or to flesh out characters.

 

[noblody]

I first played ME Andromeda and enjoyed it very much. Then I played the old ones and also liked them. Maybe the problem with ME Andromeda was that the players got attached to the ME 1-3 story line and Andromeda was disconnected, but to me it was nice.

 

[BbN48]

They already screwed up "one of the best game franchises in history" with the ending of ME3...

Then they made Andromeda.

I'll keep my hopes very very low for ME4.

 

[Burty117]

The writing in Veilguard was appalling, It's an 18+ rated game yet the writers were afraid to do anything a normal grown adult would do.
It's like most characters were dreamed up by a 3 year old, too afraid to swear or be even remotely rude, whilst trying their absolute hardest not to offend anyone or anything, even between characters in their own made up world.

I'm glad these writers got fired, good luck finding another job, you'll need it, you ruined multiple game franchises.

 

[James Ryan]

I first played ME Andromeda and enjoyed it very much. Then I played the old ones and also liked them. Maybe the problem with ME Andromeda was that the players got attached to the ME 1-3 storyline and Andromeda was disconnected, but to me it was nice.

Quite possible.
I played 1 - 3 on release and they were brilliant. I'm going through the legendary edition at the moment.
I played Andromeda a few years after release and also enjoyed it but I went in treating it as a total spin off series which made it enjoyable. Nothing like the first 3 but still worth playing.

 

[KingKappa]

The writing in Veilguard was appalling, It's an 18+ rated game yet the writers were afraid to do anything a normal grown adult would do.
It's like most characters were dreamed up by a 3 year old, too afraid to swear or be even remotely rude, whilst trying their absolute hardest not to offend anyone or anything, even between characters in their own made up world.

I'm glad these writers got fired, good luck finding another job, you'll need it, you ruined multiple game franchises.

Losing their job is not enough, these people should be officially blacklisted/barred from any writing position.

 

[gamerk2]

While DA:O/ME1 were released after EA acquired Bioware, DA2 was the first game where you saw EAs influence take hold. And Bioware has been going steadily downhill since then.

 

[EdmondRC]

Inexplicably? Are you kidding? Let me explain it, they laid off most of their writers and activist because, 1. They destroyed Dragon Age, despite it being a technically impressive game, the writers and director destroyed the game with modern day politics. 2. They'll probably get the game done a whole lot faster and a whole lot cheaper without the worthless activist developers around. 3. They might actually make money on the new Mass Effect since they purged the parasites from their team.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Downsizing as you head into full production is not a good sign.

It depends. Were the two dozen people good employees or bad? Sometimes leaner times are good for businesses because the finally fire some of the dead weight.

It's also worth noting these people were already loaned out rather put to work on ME4 so that suggests either their skillset wasn't needed or they weren't that skilled.

 

[AlexIL]

ME5?
Let me guess:
A bunch of space faring non-binary all-pink characters discussing how cool it is to be all-round cheesy friends. No real life conflicts no serious choices nothing that could be smelled controversial to any side of anything.

 

[kinetix]

The ME3 ending was actually the writing on the wall. Andromeda was never going to get near what ME3 should've been (as they lost the main people who made the trilogy up to the ending of ME3 great).

Which, I don't trust that they'll ever staff up with the right team of people again. They had their chance with Veilguard and proved they couldn't, on top of buying good coverage (deceitful tactics trying to convince gamers of a "return to form") for a game that couldn't hold a candle to the other DA games story-wise.

Exactly. I completed ME:A just to complete it, not to leave it halfway. And I played it quite a while after it came out, with all the patches and add-ons applied. It didn't give me any excitement.
A couple of years before that I had played ME again, 1,2,3 in a row, one after the other, passing the salvos from one to the other to keep the context. Even today I want to play the trilogy again and try some different things (but it would still be Paragon, hehehe)

 

[Michiel]

"Inexplicably" lol.