BioWare Shut Down, Next Mass Effect Project Scraped
EA is dissolving the legendary developer after 31 years and halting work on the next chapter of the franchise.
By Adewale Rousseau ·
Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare and its Edmonton studio, ending a 31-year legacy of hit franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The closure also kills early development work on the next Mass Effect title, a decision confirmed in a letter to staff. EA is realigning its focus toward other major properties, including Battlefield, Iron Man, and a revival of Fight Night.
BioWare, which EA has called a 'legendary studio,' had been quietly working on the next Mass Effect game with a small team. However, EA has 'made the decision not to move forward with this development.' The studio's history includes creating Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur’s Gate. EA acquired BioWare in 2008, and the company transitioned to private ownership this past August.
Work on the next Mass Effect game was first announced in November 2020, followed by a teaser trailer that December. The following year, BioWare released the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, a remaster of the original trilogy. Since that 2021 release, the studio's output has been limited to Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024. That title engaged about 1.5 million players during its launch quarter, a figure EA noted was 'down nearly 50% from the company’s expectations.' While EA did not state this was the cause, that reception may have played a role in the decision.
In a message to employees, EA spent little time on BioWare's history, instead outlining three strategic priorities: Deepen Our Core, Expand Our Reach, and Transform Our Business. Battlefield 6 is being called a success as the company prioritizes Apex Legends modes, Marvel’s Iron Man, and the next Star Wars Jedi game. Under EA Sports, work continues on 'Project Gridiron,' while a Fight Night revival is in pre-production. EA also intends to 'prioritize [its] efforts on Project Evergreen' for The Sims.
Affected BioWare staff will be supported 'in exploring other opportunities within EA,' though the company did not provide a count of impacted jobs. EA has not declared the Mass Effect or Dragon Age series dead. The studio's previously released games were also not addressed in the announcement. The company plans to discuss its direction and future work with staff at its Global Town Hall in November.
For now, EA is doubling down on its core franchises and dropping the studio to refocus on what has been working.
Source: Tom's Hardware · original report published
