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BioWare announced in August 2023 that it would eliminate approximately 50 roles as part of a studio reorganization. Separately, Keywords Studios laid off 13 unionized QA employees in the Edmonton area after a fixed-term contract supporting Dragon Age: Dreadwolf ended. The available reporting does not establish that the Keywords contract ended because the workers unionized.
What happened at BioWare in August 2023?
On August 23, 2023, BioWare General Manager Gary McKay announced that the studio would eliminate approximately 50 roles. McKay described the move as a reorganization meant to make BioWare more agile and focused on upcoming projects. He wrote, “As part of this transition, we are eliminating approximately 50 roles at BioWare.” BioWare’s announcement said the studio would provide professional resources and help affected employees apply for suitable open positions at other EA studios.
BioWare’s announcement concerned its own roles. It did not announce the later job cuts at Keywords Studios.
What happened to the unionized Keywords QA employees?
In October 2023, Game Developer reported that Keywords Studios had laid off 13 unionized QA employees in the Edmonton area who had been working on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. According to the report, BioWare did not renew a fixed-term development-support contract with Keywords after September. Keywords then decided whether to retain the workers. They were Keywords employees, not part of BioWare’s approximately 50 announced role eliminations.
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Keywords told Game Developer that the contract was not renewed “solely due to an unsuccessful commercial negotiation on business terms.” The report also quoted former tester James Russwurm describing Keywords’ position as “there is no more work available” for the team. Game Developer’s report said the workers had not yet signed a contract with Keywords.
Did the contract end because the workers unionized?
The reporting does not establish that. Game Developer said it was impossible to determine whether the contract and employment decisions were purely cost management or a response to the workers’ unionization. The union context and the contract’s end are reported facts; a causal link between them is not established. Keywords’ stated explanation was an unsuccessful commercial negotiation, while Russwurm’s account described the company’s position as no further work being available.
How the two workforce actions differ
| Detail | BioWare role eliminations | Keywords QA layoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | BioWare | Keywords Studios |
| Workers | BioWare roles; the announcement did not specify a comparable employee count | 13 unionized QA employees in the Edmonton area, according to Game Developer’s 2023 report |
| Reported timing | Announced August 23, 2023 | Reported in October 2023 after the fixed-term contract ended following September |
| Stated explanation | Studio reorganization to become more agile and focused on upcoming projects | Keywords attributed non-renewal to unsuccessful commercial negotiations on business terms |
What happened to the Dragon Age project?
The game was called Dragon Age: Dreadwolf during the 2023 contract story. In a January 29, 2025 studio update, BioWare said Dragon Age: The Veilguard had been released and that a core BioWare team was developing the next Mass Effect game. BioWare’s update provides that later project context.
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