EA Shuts Down BioWare, Halting Next Mass Effect Development
The company confirmed the closure of the Edmonton studio and the cancellation of the title's early development in a letter to staff.
By Fatima Zayed ·
Electronic Arts has shut down BioWare, the developer behind franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, effectively ending plans for a future installment in the space opera series. In a letter sent to employees, the company confirmed the closure of the BioWare Edmonton studio and revealed that early development on the next Mass Effect project has been canceled.
EA characterized BioWare as a legendary entity while outlining a strategic pivot toward other priorities. The company is focusing on expanding its core franchises, specifically highlighting Battlefield, Marvel's Iron Man, and a revival of the Fight Night series. Other projects mentioned in internal communications include Apex Legends modes, the next Star Wars Jedi title, Project Gridiron, and efforts regarding The Sims.
BioWare operated for 31 years, crafting numerous titles including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur’s Gate before being acquired by Electronic Arts in 2008. The studio’s recent history with Mass Effect involved a remaster released in 2021 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024. EA went private in August.
The decision regarding Mass Effect cancels work that began after the project was announced in November 2020. While the source does not explicitly state the cancellation is due to performance, it notes that Dragon Age: The Veilguard engaged 1.5 million players in a quarter early last year, a figure EA said was down nearly 50% from expectations.
Regarding the human impact of the closure, EA stated that affected employees will be supported in exploring other opportunities within the company. The corporation did not specify the number of jobs lost or provide dates for major upcoming titles. Additionally, neither the Mass Effect nor Dragon Age series has been declared discontinued.
The company plans to address its future direction and the work ahead with staff during a Global Town Hall scheduled for November. For the time being, EA appears intent on consolidating its focus on established franchises rather than continuing with the studio's development projects.
Source: Tom's Hardware
