BioWare general manager Gary McKay tried to explain the current state of the studio in a new blog post that was full of vague ambitions but light on actual specifics. We know that the studio has completely moved on from last year’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard and is focused entirely on making the next Mass Effect.

The studio is said to have less than 100 active employees at the moment, which constitutes fewer than half of the BioWare staff levels reported in 2023. The drastic downsizing is a mix of layoffs and reshuffles, with company veterans such as Dragon Age lead writer Trick Weekes finding themselves out of a job.

The Veilguard. I don't mean this in the sense that I didn't enjoy BioWare's latest RPG, because I loved it in many respects. But after 10 years of build up and anticipation, it's bittersweet to see The Veilguard close the book on a big chapter of Thedas.