Breaking: EA is closing BioWare after 30 years and has cancelled the next Mass Effect

BioWare is closing. After more than 30 years, the studio behind Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect and Dragon Age confirmed today that it “is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending” (BioWare, on X).

”There is nothing easy about writing those words,” the studio wrote. “Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition.”

What EA said. In a memo to staff, EA president and chief studios officer Cam Weber and president and COO David Tinson said “a small team at BioWare” had been in early development on Mass Effect. “We’ve made the decision not to move forward with this development, which means we’re closing the studio and our Edmonton workspace,” they wrote. “BioWare is a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre, and we do not take this decision lightly” (EA).

The human cost. Bloomberg reports EA is cutting about 400 jobs in total, roughly 3% of its workforce (Variety). About 50 of those were BioWare’s remaining developers on Mass Effect, according to Game Developer, citing Bloomberg. EA says it will help affected employees look for other roles inside the company.

Why it happened.

• A new strategy under new owners. This is EA’s first big move since its $55 billion take-private deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners closed in August (Variety). The memo says EA will make “fewer simultaneous, large-scale projects” in action-adventure and focus on Battlefield, Apex, Marvel’s Iron Man, Star Wars Jedi, EA Sports, The Sims and skate.
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed. EA said in January 2025 that Veilguard “engaged approximately 1.5 million players,” nearly 50% below expectations (The Verge).
• A studio already shrunk. After Veilguard shipped, BioWare went from more than 200 people to fewer than 100. Staff were moved permanently to other EA teams and about two dozen were laid off, leaving a small core team on Mass Effect (Bloomberg).
• A long rough patch. Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017) drew mixed reviews, and the live-service shooter Anthem (2019) never caught on and was later shut down. Bloomberg notes BioWare hadn’t had a hit since Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014 (The Verge, Game Developer).

PPR take: Whatever you thought of BioWare’s last few games, the people losing their jobs today built worlds that millions of us lived in for years. Commander Shepard, the Hero of Ferelden, Revan: those characters exist because of these developers. Our thoughts are with everyone at BioWare and across EA affected today. We hope studios that are hiring take a close look at them.