Mark Darrah, the former executive producer who spent two decades shaping the Dragon Age series, recently offered insights into the development of Mass Effect 5. He suggests that the project may flourish by being BioWare’s sole focus, even if it results in a more significant wait for fans following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
For most of its history, BioWare operated as a multi-project studio. During the mid-2000s, for instance, the team simultaneously managed the production of the original Mass Effect, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, and Dragon Age: Origins. This traditional structure required staff to pivot between various titles—a strategy that has only recently been abandoned.
The current executive producer, Mike Gamble, confirmed this strategic shift, noting that the team is now “heads-down” and entirely dedicated to the next Mass Effect. With an expansive universe to map out, complex new features to implement, and intricate character romances to script, the studio appears to have consolidated its entire bandwidth onto this single flagship title.
In a recent interview with Destin Legarie, Darrah explained that the Mass Effect 5 team has successfully achieved a full-scale transition. This mirrors a move the studio attempted during the shift from Dragon Age to Anthem, but this time, the entire staff has made the leap. Consequently, Darrah predicts a “long time” will pass before the next space odyssey arrives.
“BioWare has essentially evolved into a one-project studio,” Darrah remarked. He acknowledged that while this model presents its own unique hurdles, it eliminates the specific issues that plagued the studio prior to 2022. He highlighted the benefits of this concentrated approach, noting that the “old” BioWare often saw multiple projects competing for internal resources and executive attention, which frequently led to production friction.
Today, the studio’s landscape is different. According to Darrah, nearly 100% of BioWare’s current efforts are directed toward Mass Effect. He concludes that this singular vision is likely the best path forward for the quality of the game.
Keen-eyed fans recently discovered concept art hinting at a Krogan civil war buried in BioWare’s N7 Day materials. While the studio lead acknowledged the excitement, they noted that the time for a full reveal isn’t quite here yet.
