EA is closing BioWare and ending work on the next Mass Effect game

BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is shutting down. The studio said on social media that it is closing and that early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending.

EA confirmed the closure. The Verge reported that EA chose not to continue work on the next Mass Effect game as part of a wider shake-up at the company.

Key facts

• BioWare said it is closing and ending early work on the next Mass Effect.
• Bloomberg reported EA is cutting around 400 staff, including around 50 at BioWare, The Verge said.
• EA is also closing its office in Edmonton, Alberta, Engadget reported.
• The moves follow EA's $55 billion take-private deal that closed in August, according to The Verge.
• IGN reported that Amazon's Mass Effect TV series is still in development, The Verge said.

What EA announced

The closure is one part of a larger set of changes. The Verge reported that Bloomberg said EA is laying off around 400 staff, with around 50 of them at BioWare. EA itself has not given an exact count; those figures come from Bloomberg's reporting.

Engadget said Variety reports the cuts equal around three percent of EA's workforce. EA said it will help affected workers look for other roles within the company, Engadget reported. The studio's closing date and severance terms for staff have not been disclosed.

EA is changing other teams, too. Engadget reported that EA is shrinking Skate developer Full Circle and pausing The Sims' "Project Lotus" to focus on "Project Evergreen."

Some projects will continue. The Verge reported EA said Respawn and DICE will work together on a future project, while work goes on for Marvel's Iron Man and a new Star Wars Jedi title.

EA co-presidents Cam Weber and David Tinson called BioWare a legendary studio. They wrote that "we do not take this decision lightly," The Verge reported.

Background

BioWare has a long history in role-playing games. The studio was founded in 1995 in Edmonton, Alberta. It made Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

EA bought BioWare in 2007, according to Engadget.

The studio's recent record was uneven. The Verge said BioWare struggled after Mass Effect: Andromeda in 2017 and the live-service game Anthem in 2019. Dragon Age: The Veilguard also missed sales expectations, The Verge reported.

BioWare also lost several leaders over the years. Founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk left in 2012, and longtime producer Mac Walters left in 2023.

The ownership change

The closure comes soon after EA changed hands. The Verge reported that an investor group took EA private in a $55 billion deal that closed in August. The group includes Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.

Engadget reported that the new owners loaded the company with $20 billion of debt.

EA says it is lining up talent and spending with its biggest growth areas after going private, The Verge reported.

What it means for you

For fans, the most direct effect is on Mass Effect. The next game in the series is no longer in development, BioWare said.

The franchise is not gone from all screens. IGN reported that Amazon's Mass Effect show is still in development, according to The Verge.

What happens to the BioWare name and its existing games is not known. EA has not said whether older titles will change in any way.

For workers, the cuts reach beyond one studio. Bloomberg's reporting, cited by The Verge, puts around 50 BioWare staff among roughly 400 job cuts.

What is still unknown

Several details have not been made public. The date the studio will close and the severance terms for staff are not known. It is also unclear what will happen to the BioWare brand.

EA's stated reason is broad. The company says it is aligning its people and spending with its biggest growth opportunities, The Verge reported.

What happens next

EA is putting money into other projects. Engadget reported that EA Sports is reviving Fight Night and building a social-first open-world football game, with more details expected in the next few months.

Bloomberg says the joint Respawn and DICE project is likely a new Star Wars: Battlefront game, The Verge reported. EA has not confirmed that.

FAQ

Is the next Mass Effect game canceled? Yes. BioWare said early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending as the studio closes.

Is the Mass Effect TV show still happening? IGN reported that Amazon's show is still in development, according to The Verge.

Why is EA closing BioWare? EA says it is focusing talent and money on its biggest growth areas after going private, The Verge reported. BioWare's recent games also underperformed.

How many people are losing their jobs? Bloomberg reported around 400 EA staff, including around 50 at BioWare, The Verge said. EA has not given its own count.

Who owns EA now? The Verge reported that an investor group including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners took EA private.

When did EA buy BioWare? Engadget says EA acquired the studio in 2007.

Which EA games are still being made? The Verge reported EA said work continues on Marvel's Iron Man and a new Star Wars Jedi title.