IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

'Business As Usual' for BioWare, Following Pandemic Consolidation

Posted November 17, 2009 by James Brightman

Working for Electronic Arts these days must really be an anxiety filled job, thanks to the cost reduction plan put in place to cut 1,500 staff. You just don't know who will fall under the axe next. This week it was unfortunately Pandemic's turn to be "consolidated."

With the Pandemic news fresh in our minds, we reached out the folks at BioWare to get some sort of reaction. After all, EA acquired Pandemic and BioWare at the same time under the VG Holding Corporation parent company.  So how does BioWare feel about the acquisition in retrospect? Is BioWare worried about its own position within EA with all these layoffs at the publisher now? What's the level of concern?

IndustryGamers received answers to none of these questions. Instead, a spokesperson told us, "There's no reaction to report from BioWare; it is business as usual."  

We of course find that a little hard to believe. There has to be some concern or reaction; we doubt EA has lobotomized doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk just yet, making them devoid of all emotion. It could have just as easily been BioWare getting cutbacks, but the difference is that BioWare's games have been more successful. And after having lost nearly $400 million, that's all EA is concerning itself with.

Here's a fake statement we made up representing the very least we would have expected to hear back from BioWare: "Electronic Arts has had a challenging 2009 and has been faced with numerous tough decisions. We were saddened to hear about our friends at Pandemic today and we wish them all the best. That said, we believe EA is on the right track to strengthen its business and we're glad to be a part of the EA family. We're very grateful for all the support they've given BioWare and we're looking forward to releasing Mass Effect 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic following our successful launch of Dragon Age: Origins."

James Brightman has been covering the games industry since 2003 and has been an avid gamer ever since the days of Atari and Intellivision. He was previously the EIC of GameDaily Biz.