Mass Effect 5 development leads to BioWare restructuring, layoffs & more

What to look forward to from BioWare?

As it prepares to create the highly anticipated Mass Effect 5, BioWare, the company that created the renowned Mass Effect series, has revealed major organizational changes.

This restructuring, however, includes the unpleasant news of worker reassignments and layoffs. Let’s check out more details in this article.

Development team and focus

BioWare general manager Gary McKay has already confirmed that Mass Effect 5 is in development. This project is led by the core team that includes veterans from the original trilogy, including names like Mike Gamble and Preston Watamaniuk.

For now, this is in the very early stages and the game doesn’t need full support from the studio. Things are going to be different this time around.

Also Read: Sony Interactive Entertainment making changes; New CEO announced in Hideaki Nishino

Impact on Staff

More information revealed that an unspecified number of BioWare developers are moved to other EA’s projects. This information is according to McKay’s blog post.

Unfortunately, along with these reassignments, there have been layoffs. IGN reported that some developers from the recently launched Dragon Age: The Veilguard have been laid off. Former staffers confirmed their departure from the studio via social media.

McKay underlined that these adjustments are part of BioWare’s efforts to become a “more agile, focused studio,” a phrase used during a previous wave of layoffs in August 2023 that resulted in the elimination of 50 roles, including seasoned writers.

Many fans hope that BioWare will make a comeback after their disastrous game launch with Dragon Age: The Veilguard which only managed to attract 1.5 million players. This also contributed a lot to the $6 billion market value loss for EA.

There is also speculation that how Mass Effect 5 might be the last chance for the studio. If things don’t work, there is a chance of the studio shutting down in the future. What are your thoughts on Mass Effect 5 and the BioWare studio situation? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Gaming on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.