Following Electronic Arts’ announcement that it will be acquired by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, Insider Gaming reports that developers at BioWare are concerned about the studio’s future. These concerns primarily stem from the significant debt – approximately $20 billion of the $55 billion deal total – that EA is taking on as part of the acquisition.
The report indicates that a developer at BioWare expressed pre-release concerns regarding how their previous game – Dragon Age: The Veilguard – would be received. Now, those concerns about the future of BioWare have grown even stronger.
One developer pointed out the negative reaction following the release of Dragon Age, stating, “Considering how bad things got then, you can understand why some of us are even more concerned now.”
One developer mentioned they were already updating their portfolio due to the instability at BioWare and EA. They added that, considering EA’s recent deal, it feels like job security is now only a question of when, not if.
The developer said, “I started this work last year, but I’m now preparing a portfolio and subtly exploring other job opportunities.” They added, “It feels like it’s only a matter of time before something changes.”
It’s important to remember that BioWare likely won’t see any changes to its staff right away, as the acquisition of EA isn’t expected to be finalized until the first quarter of fiscal year 2027. This gives developers at BioWare who are concerned about potential layoffs some extra time to prepare. One developer mentioned they plan to keep working until they are officially instructed to stop.
I overheard them saying they’ll just keep going until someone tells them to stop. They admitted it’s not a great way to live, but honestly, as long as they’re getting paid, they’re not planning on quitting. It’s a tough situation, but I get why they feel that way. Money talks, you know? They’re basically saying they’ll work until they’re told to stop, even if it’s not the healthiest thing to do. I guess we all have our limits, and theirs is tied to that paycheck!
Despite the recent launch of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare has been dealing with some challenges. A report in February revealed that the studio’s staff had significantly decreased, falling to under 100 people. Previously, in 2024, BioWare had more than double that number of employees.
A new report from earlier this week suggests that EA’s new ownership is aiming for faster profitability. This indicates that Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners may explore using generative AI to accelerate game development. Unfortunately, as often happens with decisions like this, increasing the use of generative AI tools will likely result in job cuts across EA’s studios. More details are expected soon, but the focus is clearly on efficiency and speed. This could significantly impact the future of game creation at EA.
As part of the agreement, EA will remain at its current offices in Redwood City, California, and Andrew Wilson will continue as Chief Executive Officer.
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2025-10-01 18:13