"Kind Of Feels Like A Matter Of Time" — EA Sale Sparks Panic at BioWare and Fears of Further Layoffs

Recently, news broke that Electronic Arts has agreed to sell the company to a consortium of private investors for $55 billion ($20 billion of which will be financed through a JPMorgan Chase loan). The deal involves Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. Once the deal closes, EA will become a private company. This development has raised concerns within some of EA’s internal studios, including BioWare.

The announcement has caused anxiety among employees at EA-owned studios. Many worry that harsh measures and layoffs may be implemented to service the debt from the loan. BioWare, in particular, is on edge. Back in January, the studio already faced a significant wave of layoffs after Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed to meet EA’s expectations. The staff count dropped to under 100, down from over 200 in 2023. While post-release layoffs aren’t uncommon, the scale of these cuts fueled rumors of a possible studio sale—discussions that did indeed occur, though their outcome remains unclear.

Sources speaking to Insider Gaming on condition of anonymity admitted that the atmosphere at BioWare has become even more tense since the deal was announced.

"Look at the negativity that came after Dragon Age. If we felt it was only going to get worse then, you can imagine what some of us think now," said one BioWare employee.

Some are already considering looking for new jobs.

"I've been doing it since last year, but I’m making sure I have a portfolio ready and feelers out for other jobs. Kind of feels like a matter of time," shared another staff member.

Many believe their studio will be among the first to face further layoffs. Some employees are proactively preparing portfolios and job-hunting, saying they see more layoffs as inevitable. Despite the uncertainty, the team continues to work on the next Mass Effect. Earlier this year, only a small group was assigned to the project, but recently, more resources have been allocated. According to developers, they’ll keep working until they’re officially told to stop.

"We’re going to keep working until they tell us were done. It’s not the healthiest way to live, but as long as the paychecks keep coming, we’re not going to just walk away," said a BioWare employee.

For now, BioWare continues to operate in a state of uncertainty, with staff anxiously awaiting the next steps after the largest deal in EA’s history.

By the way, former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah previously explained the reasons behind Anthem’s failure.