BioWare Announces Major Restructuring, Shifts Focus to New Mass Effect

BioWare has announced a significant restructuring of, with the studio shifting its focus entirely to the development of the next Mass Effect title. This reorganization comes in the wake of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s underwhelming performance, which reportedly reached only 1.5 million players in 2024—just 50% of EA’s projected target.

In a blog post, BioWare’s General Manager Gary McKay detailed the restructuring plans, explaining that the studio’s current development phase doesn’t require its full workforce. As a result, numerous employees have been reassigned to other EA studios, a move McKay believes will transform BioWare into “a more agile, focused studio.”

This restructuring follows a challenging period for the veteran developer. Recent years have seen BioWare struggle with critically underwhelming releases, including Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem. The studio already weathered significant changes in 2023, when 50 positions were eliminated. Adding to these challenges, Dragon Age director Corinne Busche recently departed the company, though sources indicate this was due to a new career opportunity rather than The Veilguard’s performance.

With Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s development cycle seemingly complete following a recent quality-of-life update, BioWare’s attention now turns to the next Mass Effect installment. The project, first announced four years ago, is currently in pre-production under the leadership of Mike Gamble. While the game’s narrative direction—whether it will continue the Andromeda storyline, connect to the original trilogy, or forge an entirely new path—remains unclear, development is expected to be lengthy. Industry observers don’t anticipate a release before 2027.

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