BioWare Reportedly Asked Laid-Off Employees to Think about Dragon Age Dreadwolf Future

As we earlier wrote, in August, BioWare downsized 50 employees, explaining that it was necessary to "preserve the health of the studio", enhance their ability to create the story-driven, single-player experiences they are popular for, and make sure that "Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is an outstanding game". Seven of those 50 people affected by the layoffs have filed a lawsuit against BioWare, aiming to receive better severance compensation.

In the latest discussion with Kotaku, Alex Kennedy, the lawyer of earlier mentioned seven employees, revealed that the clients chose to pursue legal action after BioWare informed them that requesting the legally owed severance could potentially pose a financial burden to the studio and further jeopardize the development of Dreadwolf. This game has already undergone significant rework and is said to be facing delays.

It seems that originally, there were fifteen employees who expressed interest in filing a lawsuit. However, some of them decided against it due to concerns about financial hardships during the holiday season, such as paying bills or supporting their families. Currently, the proposed modest compensation is being paid, while it is expected that the court decision will take a few months to be reached. There is a possibility that BioWare and EA may take up to a month to respond to the legal filing made by the group, and the case might take even longer to be heard by a judge. Kennedy remains optimistic, hoping that BioWare will eventually "see the light" and engage in negotiations for a settlement.

The lawyer highlighted the Frostbite engine as a factor that warrants higher compensation. Due to EA's requirement for employees to work exclusively with this internal engine, it may now pose challenges for them to secure employment in studios that utilize third-party solutions like Unreal Engine or Unity. Furthermore, NDAs restrict them from showcasing their recent developments over the past few years.

BioWare has not yet made any public comments regarding the lawsuit filed against the company. Also, don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.