BioWare announced 50 layoffs, including long-time Dragon Age writers, in a bid to make a more “agile” team. Gary McKay, the studio’s general manager, posted a blog post explaining the layoffs and assuring fans that parting ways with some of the studio’s most experienced members won’t delay Dragon Age Dreadwolf or Mass Effect 4.
BioWare had a fully playable Dreadwolf alpha build near the end of 2022. Giantbomb host Jeff Grubb says BioWare internally delayed Dreadwolf from a September 2023 release date to summer 2024, with a high chance of further delays happening.
“In order to meet the needs of our upcoming projects, continue to hold ourselves to the highest standard of quality, and ensure BioWare can continue to thrive in an industry that’s rapidly evolving, we must shift towards a more agile and more focused studio,” McKay said in the statement. “It will allow our developers to iterate quickly, unlock more creativity, and form a clear vision of what we’re building before development ramps up.”
Hey folks, I'll be updating this thread here and on LinkedIn as things become more clear, but please please please support the folks who were let go today from BioWare and let's find them positions where hopefully they can stay in Edmonton!
— Madison Côté ☄️✨ #GDX2024 (@MadisonRCote) August 23, 2023
McKay said BioWare will try to find other positions in the company for those affected, though roughly half a dozen – including Dragon Age Origins writer Mary Kirby – are already looking for other job opportunities on social media.
Others laid off from BioWare in addition to Kirby include John Renish, technical director and programmer who’d been with BioWare for eight years; Tim Griffith, an engineer and narrative programmer who joined BioWare in 2012; and Andre Garcia, director on Dreadwolf with an extensive career spanning 20 years at EA, LucasArts, and Ubisoft.
Lead Mass Effect writer Mac Walters left the studio earlier in 2023. McKay didn’t say how BioWare plans to fill these vacant senior roles or whether they’ll be filled at all.
GamesBeat’s Dean Takahashi also reported that BioWare and EA cut ties with Keyword Studios playtesting group after the latter voted to form a union.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
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