BioWare: Casey Hudson, Mark Darrah to Leave Studio, All Current Projects Planned to Continue

Ah well, waiting for the inevitable Jason Schreir article now, I guess. No way this is just them leaving by their own accord. Darrah's article is specially obvious.

What manner of heresy be this?

Sirpetrakus, posting a reasonable take?

This is how we know 2020 is sparing no one, folks 

So I guess the end is now nigherererestest.

The above comment from Casey is concerning to me. Who, in their right mind quits a job voluntarily, when they don't have something else planned?

Interestingly, Jason seemed surprised as well.

From Twitter:
"Wow. The studio head of BioWare and executive producer of Dragon Age 4 have both abruptly resigned"

I don’t know what to take away from this but I’m feeling very apprehensive.

this from Mark is also similarly concerning to me

I don't blame you.
Mark leaving the project crossed that threshold for me as well.



I like your optimism.
Here's hoping.

Sounds to me like there might some disagreement in the studio or higher ups about direction, worst case scenario.

I have a lot of faith in Mark Darrah so this is shaking me, I admit.

That is true. Though the decision wasn't entirely one sided.

I have been on the record saying that the news update we got last September, about DA4, Anthem Next and the ME5 were not made without some heavy concessions on Bioware's part. I was not aware of one of them being Mark stepping down. I still don't expect it to influence development and what guidelines were laid from EA were laid down then, which isn't going to change significantly in terms of the final product. I mean, the quality of the content is entirely dependent on the studio, but certain goals, in terms of RoI and monetization aren't going to change. How those have influenced the game, in terms of the final product will look like, I can't tell you. Luke Barrett would be a better person to ask.


2020 has little to do with it. Anything that would have influenced the games has already happened. Everything else, in terms of creative vision, is entirely on how well the studio uses the time afforded to it. Again, I am not aware of any specific Q targeted for release, but I would not expect the game to be developed and hitting the market, in less that 24 months. I am still guestimating it for late Q3/early Q4 2023, with a possible delay into Q1 2024.

Well, this is a little complicated. A lot of things needed to change internally, a lot of decisions needed to be made and a lot of creative differences needed to happen, before either, although, again, I only knew about Casey, would step down. This isn't a panic move, this isn't a spontaneous departure. At least, EA had a plan for this. I don't know enough of the specifics, unfortunately. That is above the pay grade I am privy to.