In a stunning revelation, former BioWare developer David Gaider has exposed the tension simmering between the teams behind two of the studio's iconic franchises, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. During his tenure at BioWare until 2016, Gaider found firsthand that the two groups "didn't get along" at all.

Reflecting on his experiences on social media, Gaider described a stark divide in the company, highlighting how these two powerhouse teams operated almost like separate studios. "For a long time, it was basically two teams under one roof," he noted. "They ran differently and had very different cultures, almost like oil and water."

Gaider's insights deepened when he transitioned to the Mass Effect team to help develop Anthem, a project that had veered away from its original hard sci-fi concept. He quickly realized that his colleagues were not welcoming. "The team didn't want me there. At all," Gaider recounted.

Specifically asked to write a story for Anthem that blended science and fantasy, Gaider found himself at odds with the team's expectations. "I kept getting feedback about how it was 'too Dragon Age'... the implication being that anything like Dragon Age was bad," he lamented. The constant pushback left him feeling stifled, as the team, decidedly anti-RPG, seemed to expect him to produce a BioWare-quality narrative without providing the necessary tools.

Eventually, the mounting frustrations led Gaider to leave BioWare after 17 years. After negotiating a potential creative director role, he realized the company had lost faith in his future there. "I wanted OUT," Gaider expressed, highlighting his fierce desire for a fresh start.

Since departing, Gaider has ventured into new territory, developing Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical at Summerfall Studios, which has received positive acclaim in 2023. The team is now actively working on a new project, a demonic deckbuilder titled Malys.

Meanwhile, BioWare continued to grapple with the fallout from Anthem, which ultimately launched to disappointing reviews and sales. The developer shifted gears more successfully with the release of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition in 2021, followed by the recently launched Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which, despite good feedback, suffered from lackluster sales.

Currently, a leaner BioWare is focused exclusively on the next installment of Mass Effect, a project that first surfaced in December 2020. As the studio navigates its challenges, the long-term impact of the internal strife within its ranks remains to be seen.