David Gaider announced his exit on Twitter, stating that last Friday would be his final day after 17 years with the studio responsible for Mass Effect, Baldur's Gate, and several other fan-favorite titles.
..."Some news: I must sadly announce that, after 17 years, today is my last day at BioWare. I'll miss my team, and wish everyone here the best.""Well...that's that. I now literally cannot get back into the building. Cue sad Hulk theme music as I walk away.""Tomorrow I'll be excited about what comes next. Tonight, however, I am besieged by doubt, drunk, and weeping. This has been a tough day."
Bioware Canada studio head Aaryn Flynn thanked David Gaider for his contributions on Twitter, making it the only official statement from the company so far on the departure:
..."An enormous thank you from all of BioWare for David's contributions to our games. You're always welcome here! :)"...
In a statement released to Polygon, Gaider said that the split was amicable, citing a desire to seek new challenges:
..."It was indeed my decision, one not made easily since BioWare's been very good to me, and the parting is amicable. It's simply time to move onto a new challenge. As to where I'm headed next, that announcement will come in due time — today's about saying goodbye and packing up."...
David Gaider penned several beloved characters over the years, including The Old Republic's hilariously murderous HK-47 droid (a personal favorite) and the seditious Dragon Age witch – Morrigan. Gaider is also credited with helping to bring greater inclusivity to mainstream triple-A games, which Bioware pioneered with same-sex romance options in both Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Times at Bioware seem to have been a little turbulent of late. Last year, David Gaider announced that he was leaving the Dragon Age franchise to work on an as-of-yet unrevealed project for Bioware. The news came a month after Bioware announced it was canceling Shadow Realms, which would've been a brand new action RPG with competitive 4 vs. 1 multiplayer elements.
Gaider's exit follows several other high-profile Bioware departures, including former Mass Effect developers Casey Hudson, who recently joined Microsoft's HoloLens team, and Chris Wynn, who left for unknown reasons earlier this month.
EA, who owns Bioware, recently reassured fans that Mass Effect Andromeda's development will continue at "full-speed" despite the departures of Chris Wynn and Casey Hudson.
Bioware is currently working on a secret project, Mass Effect Andromeda and future updates for the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. Dragon Age Inquisition's final DLC – The Trespasser – also sets up the fantasy RPG series' next installment which is likely already in development. Sadly, it'll be without David Gaider's excellent writing.
