BioWare, the renowned game development studio under Electronic Arts (EA), has undergone significant restructuring. The company’s workforce has been reduced to fewer than 100 employees following underwhelming sales performance of its latest title, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This move marks a substantial contraction from BioWare’s previous staffing levels, reflecting broader industry trends and challenges within the studio.
In 2019, BioWare’s Edmonton location housed approximately 320 employees, a number that fluctuated across its Austin and Montreal studios over subsequent years. Reports from 2014 indicated between 80 and 150 developers working on projects like Shadow Realms, while in 2017, the Montreal studio contributed over 300 personnel to Mass Effect: Andromeda. These figures suggest that BioWare’s peak employment likely reached around 400-500 staff during the last decade.
What Led to BioWare’s Workforce Reduction?
BioWare’s staff cuts were primarily driven by the disappointing sales performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which missed sales targets by 50%. Additionally, EA implemented a strategy to reallocate developers to other studios, exacerbating the reduction in BioWare’s workforce.
“The studio had become a one game at a time outfit,”
former BioWare producer Mark Darrah noted, highlighting the shift in project focus.
How Has BioWare’s Structure Changed?
The studio, once comprising three separate entities with over 400 employees, has been consolidated into a single unit with fewer than 100 team members. This restructuring includes permanently relocating staff and eliminating additional positions following the sales shortfall.
What Are the Future Plans for BioWare?
Moving forward, BioWare is focusing on developing Mass Effect 5, marking a shift to concentrating on single projects at a time. This strategic decision reflects a response to previous development challenges and aims to streamline the studio’s efforts.
BioWare’s significant downsizing signifies a pivotal shift in its operational strategy under EA’s direction. The consolidation to a smaller team may lead to more focused development efforts, potentially allowing the studio to concentrate on delivering high-quality titles. However, this reduction in workforce also raises concerns about the studio’s capacity to handle large-scale projects and maintain its legacy of successful RPGs.
