BioWare, the renowned video game development studio behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, has been hit with significant layoffs as it shifts its focus towards the development of the next Mass Effect game. According to a report by Bloomberg, the studio has laid off "around two dozen" employees, with many more being reassigned to other projects within Electronic Arts (EA), BioWare's parent company.

The news comes on the heels of BioWare's "Studio Update" published earlier this week, in which General Manager Gary McKay announced that the studio had been working to match many of its colleagues with other teams at EA that had open roles. However, Bloomberg's report reveals that dozens of staffers who had been "loaned out" to other teams at EA after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard were informed this week that those shifts would be permanent.

The layoffs and restructuring efforts are reportedly aimed at making BioWare a more "agile, focused studio," with a core team dedicated to developing the next Mass Effect game. The studio has been working on the title since 2020, when it released a teaser trailer, but has yet to provide a release date or further details on the project.

The news is likely a result of EA's recent financial struggles, particularly with the underperformance of The Veilguard and EA Sports FC. Last week, EA announced that The Veilguard had significantly missed expectations, which may have prompted the company to reevaluate its resources and priorities.

BioWare's downsizing is a significant blow to the gaming industry, particularly given the studio's reputation for developing high-quality, story-driven games. The layoffs bring the studio's employee count down to fewer than 100, a significant reduction from the over 200 employees it had just two years ago.

The news has sparked concern among gamers and industry insiders alike, who are worried about the impact on BioWare's future projects and the overall gaming landscape. As the studio continues to develop the next Mass Effect game, fans will be watching closely to see how these changes affect the final product.

EA has yet to comment on the layoffs, but IGN has also reported on the restructuring efforts at BioWare. As more information becomes available, it will be important to monitor the situation and its implications for the gaming industry as a whole.