Bioware will cut 50 jobs as part of Electronic Arts’ new efficiency restructuring and cost savings plan.
BioWare’s next Dragon Age game, Dreadwolf, would be released in mid-2024 at the earliest. However, Electronic Arts’ fiscal year may be delayed further to 2025.
After sacking 50 people, Bioware’s Dragon Age 4 development process suffers
Just a few days ago, BioWare general manager Gary McKay made a sad statement. The studio will cut 50 jobs as part of Electronic Arts’ new efficiency restructuring and cost savings plan. This accounts for approximately 10% of BioWare’s total headcount. Many affected developers have already been laid off. Among them is 17-year Dragon Age veteran Mary Kirby. He not only created the witty dwarf Varric, but also helped shape the stories of all Dragon Age games, she.
Jeff Grubb made a statement
Laying off so many people while Dreadwolf is in development will definitively affect the game’s progress. According to Jeff Grubb, BioWare has identified a possible Summer 2024 release window for Dragon Age 4. Grubb said in a recent Games Mess Mornings post:
“The date they’re reviewing is next month, September 2023. But inside Dragon Age 4 is constantly being delayed. Expectations have been moved to March 2024 a while ago. March 2024 is pretty close, right? But it’s not debuting then either. The date has been pushed further back. Right now it won’t be out until Summer 2024 at the earliest.”
Grubb states that BioWare recruited staff from the Mass Effect team and directed them to Dragon Age Dreadwolf, and this is common practice for the studio. He also states that after the Dragon Age Inquisition, the whole team took responsibility and after its release, the Dragon Age team started to work in a new fantasy universe, then moved on to Mass Effect Andromeda and then Anthem.
BioWare says a variant of Dragon Age 4 has been in development since 2016 but has been rebooted multiple times during development. Development of the next Dragon Age was blocked several times as BioWare moved developers to Andromeda and then Anthem. For example, Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah made the switch to Anthem. Darrah eventually left BioWare. However, he is currently helping the Dragon Age Dreadwolf team as a consultant.
In the update, BioWare general manager had this to say on how the layoffs will affect the new Dragon Age:
“If you’re wondering how this will affect the development of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, let me make it clear that the game’s dedication has never wavered. Our commitment is firm and we are working together to ensure that Dreadwolf is worthy of the Dragon Age name.”