It’s been a troublesome few years for BioWare. The company enjoys a legendary reputation having developed classic titles such as Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and more. However, after the celebrated release of Dragon Age Inquisition in 2014, Mass Effect Andromeda’s release was a disaster in 2017. This was then followed up with the release of Anthem in 2019. While marketed to be the “next major new IP from BioWare“, it ended up as one of the biggest disappointments of the generation.
With a new Dragon Age and Mass Effect in development, as well as the recent announcement of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, fans have been hoping BioWare could once again deliver exceptional titles. But today’s departures certainly don’t inspire confidence.
Electronic Arts announced today that General Manager Casey Hudson is departing the company. Hudson was a staple at the company prior to leaving briefly in 2015 for Microsoft. He re-joined BioWare in 2017 and made the following statement.
“It’s not an easy decision to make, and big changes like this always come with a certain degree of sadness. I will miss being able to work every day with our inspiring developers on the biggest and most exciting projects I can imagine. But I also know that this is a good time for a change, for both myself and BioWare,” Hudson said in a post explaining his departure. “It’s profound and humbling to look back on a decades-long career and think about the things we’ve achieved together. It’s hard to make the decision to move on, but I’m excited about what’s next, for all of us.”
Additionally, Executive Producer Mark Darrah, who was leading the new Dragon Age development, is also departing. Darrah provided the following statement:
“This has been a very difficult decision for me. The team of amazing developers on Dragon Age, make my life fuller and better. They have taught me so much. But the strength of the team is also what makes this possible. I know that Dragon Age won’t just survive without me, it will thrive.
“Christian Dailey is a strong leader and will provide great insight to the rest of the Dragon Age leadership who remain. This is a team that includes people with decades of experience at BioWare. I am confident that, together, this is the team that can make this Dragon Age the best one yet.”
Our Take
This is rather shocking news particularly given the state of BioWare’s deliverables over the past several years. We’re very sorry to see Casey and Mark departing but continue to hope for the best with future BioWare titles. Time will tell.
