Today is turning out to be an interesting one for longtime BioWare fans. EA has announced that Dragon Age 4 executive producer Mark Darrah and BioWare’s general manager Casey Hudson will be departing the company. While the departure of these two BioWare veterans will undoubtedly bring about some kind of shift within the studio, all ongoing projects – namely Dragon Age 4, the next Mass Effect title, and Anthem Next – will continue on as planned.

“I want to personally thank Casey and Mark for everything they have done for the BioWare community, and particularly for our players,” EA’s chief studios officer Laura Miele said in a statement.  “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.” Miele goes on to confirm that Samantha Ryan will continue to oversee the studio, while Christian Dailey, who left Blizzard to join BioWare, will be leading the current Dragon Age project commonly referred to as Dragon Age 4. “Christian is a fantastic creative leader and I look forward to you all getting to know him in the coming days,” Miele said. “We recently announced Mass Effect: The Legendary Edition and Mike Gamble is leading a team hard at work on that franchise’s future.”

“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,” Casey Hudson said in his statement announcing his departure. “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.”

Mark Darrah echoed some of Hudson’s sentiments with his own statement. “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,” Darrah said. “Christian Dailey is a strong leader and will provide great insight to 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.”

We at DFTG wish both Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah the best of luck in their future ventures!

So, thoughts on the upcoming departures of Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah? How do you think said departure will affect the future of Dragon Age and Mass Effect? Let us know in the comments section below, and as always, stay tuned to Don’t Feed the Gamers for all the latest gaming and entertainment news! Don’t forget to follow DFTG on Twitter for our 24/7 news feed!

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