BioWare Downsizes Staff to Increase Efficiency and Focus
BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is set to cut around 50 positions as its parent company, Electronic Arts, aims to transform it into a more streamlined and concentrated studio. BioWare’s general manager, Gary McKay, stated that the reorganization was necessary to adapt to the studio’s changing requirements and was deemed unavoidable.
“After much thought and careful planning, we’ve built a long-term vision that preserves the studio’s health and allows us to do what we do best: create exceptional story-driven single-player experiences filled with expansive worlds and rich characters,” McKay wrote in a release. “This vision balances the studio’s current needs – ensuring that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is an excellent game – with the future, including the success of the next Mass Effect.”
McKay noted that BioWare is “committed to supporting” affected staff, adding that “we have decided to act now in part to provide our affected colleagues with as many internal opportunities as possible.” The affected roles are equivalent to similar duties at other EA studios, and employees will be offered professional help if they seek it. While they’re still being recognized for their work on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, McKay wrote that it’s “unlikely” that everyone involved will find a new job at EA.
The next Mass Effect game, announced in 2020, is still in pre-production with a team led by Mass Effect: Andromeda producer Mike Gamble. McKay wrote that the studio’s dedication to Dragon Age: Dreadwolf (which will be the first game in the series since 2014) has “never wavered” and that BioWare is “confident” that it has enough time to ensure that the next entry “can deliver its full “potential.”
The cuts are related to the announcement made by EA CEO Andrew Wilson in March. Wilson said the company will lay off about 6 percent of its workforce of nearly 13,000 employees and reduce office space. BioWare reportedly has around 250 employees.
Along with news of job cuts, it emerged that EA is cutting ties with game services company Keywords, which worked with BioWare on Dreadwolf. EA failed to reach a new deal with Keywords, a spokesperson told GamesBeat, and the current deal expires on September 27.
Keywords offers, among other things, game testing services. A group of quality assurance contractors in that part of the company voted to form Canada’s first video game union last year. EA has reportedly renewed contracts with Keywords following the June 2022 union vote, but was unable to agree on terms this time amid changes at BioWare.
