Former BioWare Developers Fight for Fair Severance Amidst EA's Prosperity

The recent lawsuit filed by seven former BioWare Edmonton employees against Electronic Arts has brought attention to the company's handling of severance packages. Despite EA's significant financial gains, with a net income of $802 million for the year ended March 31, 2023, the company has been accused of offering inadequate severance to its former employees. The lawsuit claims that the severance packages fell short of what the employees should have received, with their lawyers arguing that they should be entitled to about one month of severance per year of service. This would translate to a substantial amount, considering the employees' average tenure of 14 years at BioWare. The situation is further complicated by EA's reported attempts to link the payment of severance to the development of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, implying that the game's fate could be jeopardized if the former employees receive their due severance. This tactic has been criticized as an attempt to exploit the employees' emotional investment in the project and their desire to see it through to completion. The incident highlights the disparity between the financial success of companies like EA and the treatment of their employees, particularly during times of layoffs and restructuring. It also raises questions about the ethics of companies using their financial power to influence the decisions of their former employees and the impact of such actions on the gaming industry as a whole.