Dragon Age Creator Reveals Tension Between BioWare’s Two Leading Teams

BioWare, renowned for its iconic franchises, Dragon Age and Mass Effect, has been facing some internal turbulence. According to David Gaider, a former lead writer at the studio, the two teams responsible for these franchises didn’t exactly get along. While both series have gained substantial fan following over the years, recent entries have experienced long development cycles and blended reviews from critics and fans alike. Gaider’s recent revelations shed some light on the company’s internal dynamics, painting a somewhat challenging picture.

Gaider’s final project with BioWare was Anthem, the ambitious sci-fi game that didn’t quite take off as expected. Despite the studio’s legacy of hits with Dragon Age and Mass Effect, Anthem was shut down in 2021, just a couple of years post-launch. Gaider’s insights into his departure from BioWare reveal some of the hurdles the company has faced recently.

During a conversation on Bluesky, Gaider elaborated on the tension between the Dragon Age and Mass Effect teams. He described these teams as operating almost like separate entities under the same roof, with distinct company cultures and little camaraderie. This perspective aligns with former BioWare developer Mark Darrah’s comments that highlighted similar sentiments. Darrah noted the reluctance of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard team to assist Mass Effect 4 developers and acknowledged how unusual such collaboration is within BioWare.

In further discussions, Gaider talked about his experience with the Anthem team, which primarily consisted of former Mass Effect employees who were not particularly welcoming to Dragon Age veterans. His attempts to infuse Anthem with a more science-fantasy flavor were met with criticism, the team claiming his ideas were “too Dragon Age.” This disconnect isn’t new; back in 2022, Darrah mentioned that Mass Effect developers avoided using custom-built tools from the Dragon Age series, leading to more complications for both franchises.

Ultimately, the frustrations stemming from the internal friction, coupled with other cultural issues within BioWare, prompted Gaider to leave. Although several years have passed since Anthem’s development, it’s unclear if these issues still persist at the company. Dragon Age: The Veilguard didn’t meet EA’s sales expectations and received mixed responses from fans, raising questions about whether internal discord contributed, or if other factors were in play. As the gaming community eagerly anticipates the next chapter in the Mass Effect saga, eyes are on BioWare to see if it can return to its former glory.