Final exodus of BioWare leadership - Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah resign

[Wirdschowerdn]

The last two Mohicans are leaving.

https://www.gameinformer.com/2020/12/03/biowares-casey-hudson-and-mark-darrah-are-leaving-the-studio

BioWare's Casey Hudson And Mark Darrah Are Leaving The Studio
by Liana Ruppert on Dec 03, 2020 at 03:14 PM

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EA has confirmed that general manager Casey Hudson and Dragon Age 4 executive producer Mark Darrah are leaving BioWare. While the announcement did come with the assurance that Dragon Age 4, Anthem Next, and the Mass Effect Trilogy Legendary remaster would be unaffected, fans are of these iconic franchises have already begun voicing their concerns.

"We strive for all of our studios to be places where talented creative people come to do career-defining work," reads the official announcement on the BioWare Blog. "A dimension of this ambition is that sometimes those people want to try something different. Casey Hudson, GM, BioWare and Mark Darrah, Executive Producer, Dragon Age are two of those people and they have decided to move on from BioWare.

"I want to personally thank Casey and Mark for everything they have done for the BioWare community, and particularly for our players. They will always be an essential part of the studio’s history, we appreciate their many contributions, and we look forward to seeing what they’ll each do next. More from Casey here and Mark here."

The post continues saying that the team couldn't be "more confident or optimistic" about the future, despite so many key members of these franchises beloved by many departing the company and moving onto other things.

Samantha Ryan, coming from Warner Brothers Games, will continue overseeing the studio's efforts as former Blizzard dev Christian Dailey takes the helm of the Dragon Age series and Dragon Age 4.

Mike Gamble will be leading the charge for the future of Mass Effect, which is a solid reassurance with his incredible history and contributions to the franchise; now more than ever with these two big names departing.

As for who will be replacing Casey Hudson, that search continues with the promise that the company is "already talking to some great people," one who has a "deep love and respect for the studio's heritage" and "embodies the values of this team and who will help carry on the incredible legacy of BioWare."

 

[fantadomat]

They missed AGAIN

 

[fantadomat]

https://blog.bioware.com/2020/12/03/from-mark-darrah/

From Mark Darrah

I have been at BioWare since the 90s. Back when CRPGs were considered a dead genre. Through the last 23 years, I have watched video games evolve and grow into a truly powerful communication medium. We are an important part of so many people’s lives. And BioWare has been a part of this journey. Though I remain confident in BioWare’s strength and continued place in this conversation, I have decided to retire from my position at BioWare.

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.

BioWare has always been about telling emotional stories through characters. We have wandered away from this central guiding pillar at times, but I am confident that the next Dragon Age will show that we remain committed to this kind of game. We will have a lot to show you.

This year has been transformative to the way we do everything. The way we work, the way we socialize; these are things that have changed. Some of these changes are temporary but others will remain forever. I believe that this gives us an opportunity to bring in new voices. To reimagine how we work. To strengthen how we tell stories.

Dragon Age will be in good hands. Christian Dailey will be moving into the Executive Producer role. Christian Dailey is a strong leader and will provide great insight into 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.

Matthew Goldman remains the Creative Director. He has been on Dragon Age since the early days of Dragon Age: Origins. Like me, he has been involved in the franchise as it has changed over the years. He has a deep understanding of what it has been and what it has the potential to be.

Mass Effect too has an exciting future. I won’t say too much but I am impressed by the growth of Mike Gamble and I am looking forward to all that franchise will do under his leadership

Likely you are reading this entry after reading a similar one from Casey Hudson. If not, surprise! He is also announcing his retirement today. Casey has taught me a lot of things over the years, especially since his return three years ago. I look forward to seeing what he does next.

This has been a long and exciting journey. I am incredibly grateful to Ray and Greg for taking a chance on a new graduate back in the earliest days of BioWare. I have done my best to live up to the values that they set in those early days. Values I think still flow through the (now virtual) halls of BioWare.

More than anything I am thankful for the ability to have touched so many lives. To have given people a chance to explore themselves through our games. I like to think I have helped make some of your lives a little better. I hope I’m right.
I don’t know what’s next for me, but I’m excited to find out. Just as I’m excited to find out what Dragon Age now becomes.

Thank you,
Mark Darrah

 

[Turuko]

 

[Flying Dutchman]

EA sucks the life from another Bioware dev corpse unaware they were all already dead inside

But wish him well except for the Casey Hudson mention, which was lame from a respect standpoint ("he made an annoucement too and here's what it is, so no need to check it out").

 

[Infinitron]

https://blog.bioware.com/2020/12/03/from-casey-hudson/

From Casey Hudson

I’m incredibly fortunate to have had a career where I’ve been able to work with brilliantly talented people, create entire worlds from our imaginations, and see them being enjoyed by millions of people around the world. And now, after nearly 20 years of work at BioWare, I’ve made the decision to retire from the studio and make way for the next generation of studio leaders.

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.

When I became Studio GM a little over three years ago, our goal as a leadership team was to position our people and projects for long-term success. Now, as BioWare celebrates its 25th anniversary, the studio is poised for an exciting new era of amazing games. This year we’ve been inspired by the continued community support for our ongoing work on Star Wars: The Old Republic and Anthem. A few months ago we provided a deeper look at the work that’s going into the next huge Dragon Age game. And on N7 Day we announced Mass Effect: The Legendary Edition and gave a hint at what’s coming next in the Mass Effect universe. It’s an exciting time, both in terms of projects you’ve heard about, and some things not yet announced.

Arriving at this point has been an opportunity for me to reflect on my own future, and 2020 has been a year that forced all of us to re-imagine how we think about work and life. For me, it’s been the realization that I still have tremendous energy to create, but also that I need to try something different. I’m not sure exactly what that is yet, but I know that I want to start by rediscovering my creative passion through more personal work.

Mark Darrah, the Executive Producer for Dragon Age, is also announcing his retirement from the studio today. We have worked together since the early days of BioWare and I have valued his contribution immensely – especially in recent years as a key partner in leading the studio.

One of the things that makes these decisions easier is knowing that BioWare will move forward with a strong and complete set of studio leaders. We have a very talented leader in Gary McKay, our Sr. Director of Development Operations, who will be BioWare’s interim Studio GM. Christian Dailey has been a driving force for BioWare as Studio Director for BioWare Austin and will be taking over the role of Dragon Age’s Executive Producer. Gary and Christian will have the support of an experienced group of project and department leaders who are ready to guide BioWare into the future.

There are so many people I want to thank for sharing in this journey: Our players, who inspire us and make it all possible. Electronic Arts, which has given us a stable and supportive environment to keep making games even in the most unstable times. And the many amazing people that I’ve had the honor of working with and learning from over the years.

Perhaps most of all I want to thank BioWare’s founders, Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka, for hiring me back in 1998 as a junior technical artist. They took a chance on me and fundamentally altered the course of my life in the most amazing way. Because of their wisdom and foundational values, BioWare has always been a company built on humility, integrity, and the idea of finding great people and fully empowering them. We’ve been fortunate to have found success, and I know those enduring values will continue to guide BioWare’s success in the future.

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.

Thank you,
Casey Hudson

https://blog.bioware.com/2020/12/03...-miele-chief-studios-officer-electronic-arts/

A Message From Laura Miele, Chief Studios Officer, Electronic Arts

We strive for all of our studios to be places where talented creative people come to do career-defining work. A dimension of this ambition is that sometimes those people want to try something different. Casey Hudson, GM, BioWare and Mark Darrah, Executive Producer, Dragon Age are two of those people and they have decided to move on from BioWare. I want to personally thank Casey and Mark for everything they have done for the BioWare community, and particularly for our players. They will always be an essential part of the studio’s history, we appreciate their many contributions, and we look forward to seeing what they’ll each do next. More from Casey here and Mark here.

When I think about BioWare’s future and the next generation of talent in place, I could not be more confident or optimistic. As we look to the studio’s future and the projects currently under development, the next generation of BioWare talent is leading the studio forward and working on some incredible games that I know you will be excited to experience in the coming years.

Samantha Ryan, who came to Electronic Arts after leading Warner Brothers Games, is one of the strongest leaders in the industry. She will continue to oversee the studio. I’m also excited to announce Christian Dailey, who joined BioWare from Blizzard, will be leading our Dragon Age project currently in development. Christian is a fantastic creative leader and I look forward to you all getting to know him in the coming days. We recently announced Mass Effect: The Legendary Edition and Mike Gamble is leading a team hard at work on that franchise’s future.

The search for a new GM is underway and we are already talking to some great people. We will find the right leader who has a deep love and respect for this studio’s heritage, who embodies the values of this team and who will help carry on the incredible legacy of BioWare

 

[KVVRR]

Jesus they announced the ME Remake like a week ago and they're already jumping ship?

 

[fantadomat]

Good,now dragon age has a chance to be good. Cucksy Cumson is my most hated game dev that ever walked the earth,fucking plagiarist scum,hope he got wrecked!


The reason for them to fuck of is most likely because they were caught at the brussels massive gay orgy. And now they have to suffer the stigma off having gay sex with a far right politician.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

I wonder over what quarrel they got fired for.

 

[Stokowski]

 

[luj1]

Mass exodus of BioWare leadership - Casey Hudson, Mark Darrah and Laura Miele resign

Lol these people ain't shit, they are irrelevant. Unlike Muzyka and Zeschuk, these people leaving may actually be a good thing.

 

[fantadomat]

 

[Assisted Living Godzilla]

Hudson, left in 2014, came back in 2017, left in 2020. His thing seems to be starting projects and then bailing on them once they're off the ground.

 

[RepHope]

Can’t wait for the reveal that the Dread Wolf died on the way back to Arlathan or however the fuck you spell it

Bioware’s next project will probably be a battle royale Fade game or they’ll finally get shut down/made a Battlefield support studio.

 

[Ghulgothas]

Fuck, we're not even half-a-year removed from that promotional feelsies video they put out a few months ago.

Don't worry, everyone. Mass Effect and Dragon Age are still in good hands, the hands of these people in particular.

 

[fantadomat]

Hudson, left in 2014, came back in 2017, left in 2020. His thing seems to be starting projects and then bailing on them onces they're off the ground.

He is the most responsible person for the fail of bioware. His sleazy whore shit drama drove away most of the capable people and then he jerked all over the floor with his retarded ideas. He single handedly killed their two big franchises lol.

 

[Trashos]

Mature professionals do not just quit without knowing what their next step will be. So either they are lying about not having concrete plans or something big went down (fired or a case of ultimatum).

 

[Morpheus Kitami]

Interesting, who do they have left then in terms of project leads? This has the potential to change things for the better or convince EA to finally pull the plug.

 

[eilef]

EA killed yet another. Rip Bioware. You had some good games in the past. But after SWTOR Shadow of Revan, Anthem and Andromeda - its time to close this studio for good.

 

[luj1]

Bioware died after Nwn 1 and KotOR (their last good games)

This is just a corpse raised x times by necromancy

 

[oldmanpaco]

EA killed yet another. Rip Bioware. You had some good games in the past. But after Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age 2, Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition, SWTOR Shadow of Revan, Anthem and Andromeda - its time to close this studio for good.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Hellion]

"Mass Effexodus"?

 

[Assisted Living Godzilla]

Fuck, we're not even half-a-year removed from that promotional feelsies video they put out a few months ago.

Don't worry, everyone. Mass Effect and Dragon Age are still in good hands, the hands of these people in particular.

Look at the bright side, one of the people leaving was probably also the person that thought that video was a good idea.

Mature professionals do not just quit without knowing what their next step will be. So either they are lying about not having concrete plans or something big went down (fired or a case of ultimatum).

Looking at that above video Mark Darrah may have left so he can spend more time standing alone in a open field.

 

[Rafidur]

Bioware died after Nwn 1 and KotOR (their last good games)

Hey Mass Effect 3 had decent combat in that citadel arena DLC.

 

[Justicar]

Bioware was dead since like 2010 this rats didnt get the memo though so they are late fleeing that sinking ship.