Veteran game writer Chris Avellone has accused a BioWare producer of advocating against job applicants because of their apparent political beliefs.
According to Avellone, the unnamed producer examined applicants’ LinkedIn activity and opposed hiring people who liked posts expressing views he disagreed with. The allegation raises concerns about whether qualified developers faced an ideological barrier unrelated to their ability to make games.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare
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However, his account describes recommendations against hiring candidates without identifying specific applicants whose rejections resulted from those recommendations.
Avellone Details Alleged Screening of Applicants’ LinkedIn Likes
Avellone first hinted at the incident nearly two years ago, suggesting that his experience with a BioWare producer warranted further scrutiny.
“I had an experience with a BioWare producer who showcased the full extent of their hiring practices, and it’s a story for another day – but definitely was cause for a lawsuit,” Avellone wrote on X on November 27, 2024.
On October 21, 2026, he provided a more detailed account.
@Iliekturtles12 @Joebno_Gaming I guess I can say it now – so when applicants would apply to the studio, the producer would go through their LinkedIn to see what posts they liked, and if he disagreed with their political/social Like, he’d advocate not to hire them based on their Like.
— Chris Avellone (@ChrisAvellone) October 21, 2026
“I guess I can say it now – so when applicants would apply to the studio, the producer would go through their LinkedIn to see what posts they liked, and if he disagreed with their political/social Like, he’d advocate not to hire them based on their Like.”
The accusation concerns a producer allegedly treating disagreement over political or social issues as grounds to oppose a candidate’s employment. Avellone did not identify the producer, specify the views involved, or establish how broadly the alleged practice operated.
Those omissions leave unanswered questions about the producer’s influence over final hiring decisions and whether other managers supported the approach.
Political Agreement Versus Professional Qualifications
Avellone acknowledged that reviewing an applicant’s public activity could reveal legitimate concerns about their suitability for a position.
“Now, there’s times where that’s appropriate (you don’t want to hire someone who favors not working in teams, or hates game development, or is using your studio as a stepping stone to another), but in this case, it didn’t feel appropriate.”
A screenshot from Mass Effect: Andromeda Deluxe Edition (2017), BioWare
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His objection centered on using personal political agreement as a substitute for assessing professional qualifications and the ability to collaborate.
“Not approving someone because of lack of skill or experience, sure – but I don’t expect everyone to have the same political viewpoint as I do, nor do they have to have the same viewpoint to work well together on a game.”
That distinction is central to the allegation. A candidate’s experience, skills, and conduct can inform an employment decision. Avellone’s account instead describes a producer allegedly opposing applicants because their social media activity suggested different political convictions.
If accurate, that approach would risk excluding capable developers for reasons disconnected from their work.
Allegations Surface as BioWare Closes
Avellone expanded on his earlier statement the same day BioWare announced its closure, bringing renewed scrutiny to the studio’s management.
BioWare’s shutdown also ends early development of its next Mass Effect game. The decision forms part of a broader EA restructuring reportedly affecting approximately 400 positions, including around 50 at BioWare.
The closure ends more than three decades of development spanning Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare
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BioWare had already faced backlash over Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including criticism of its dialogue and handling of gender identity. Avellone’s allegations raise another concern about the studio’s internal culture: whether political conformity influenced hiring decisions.
His account does not establish that the alleged screening shaped the game’s content, contributed to its commercial performance, or played a role in BioWare’s shutdown. His earlier reference to grounds for a lawsuit likewise does not establish that a case was filed or that a court found wrongdoing.
Nevertheless, the allegation raises a serious question about how BioWare evaluated talent. Developers do not need identical political beliefs to collaborate successfully. If qualified applicants faced opposition simply for liking a post, personal ideology may have narrowed the studio’s talent pool before their abilities received a fair assessment.
How do you feel about these revelations about BioWare and its alleged hiring practices? Sound off and let us know!
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