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’s overall performance leaves something to be desired but it still makes for a good game for those unfamiliar with the game’s legacy. Gather around folks, it’s time for a Dragon Age: The Veilguard review.

I think there is a game where you could combine the more action-based moment-to-moment combat with a great deal more tactical depth. There’s no reason a pause-play option couldn’t exist alongside the flashier melee and magic.

In a lot of ways, The Veilguard feels like a soft reboot for the series: Fewer returning characters than in Dragon Age 2 or Inquisition, minimal choices carried over, and a fresh cast in a new corner of the world. This was a bet on attracting new players, with an assumption that series fans would still be along for the ride.

BioWare is reportedly now down to fewer than 100 employees after a round of layoffs and staff exits following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a restructure to focus on the next Mass Effect game.

There is really no getting around the fact that BioWare is in dire straits at the moment, now at the end of a decade of three missed opportunities