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Layoffs expected at BioWare as EA moves Star Wars Old Republic

Layoffs expected at BioWare as EA moves Star Wars Old Republic

It looks like some of the BioWare team that has worked on the long-running Star Wars MMO The Old Republic could be laid off as publisher EA moves the title to another studio.

In a post on BioWare's website, the company said that some members of staff might be losing their jobs. Devs are being invited to continue working on the MMO over at its new home, Broadsword, but not every role will be able to move.

"No big change comes without challenges," BioWare general manager Gary McKay wrote.

"Among them is the fact that most of the current team will be invited to accompany the game on its move to Broadsword, though unfortunately not every role will make the move. This is the hardest part of this transition, and these decisions were not made lightly. We are of course doing everything we can to support the affected team members, who have an opportunity to find new roles within EA. In addition, we’re aware that the team members who are being asked to move to a new studio will also be adapting to change, and we will be working with Broadsword to make the transition as comfortable as possible.

"In the long run, though, we are confident that this is the best decision for the game and its community. We at BioWare will miss being a part of SWTOR’s story going forward. But we also know that it will be in very good hands."

Word that EA was moving The Old Republic from BioWare to Broadsword broke earlier in June.


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.