EA Shuts Down BioWare After 30 Years, Cancels Next Mass Effect Game

Electronic Arts has confirmed the closure of BioWare, one of the most renowned role-playing game studios in history, after more than 30 years of operation. The decision was announced in a farewell message published by the studio on social media, marking the end of an era that produced iconic titles such as Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem.

The closure affects the studio’s offices in Edmonton, which will be shut down as part of the restructuring. According to Bloomberg, as reported by The Verge, EA will cut approximately 400 jobs across its operations. The move follows EA’s acquisition by an investor group led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners for $55 billion, a deal finalized in August 2026.

In an internal memo, EA executives Cam Weber and David Tinson explained that the company will now focus its investments on fewer games and areas with higher growth potential. As part of this new strategy, EA is prioritizing franchises such as Battlefield, Apex Legends, EA Sports, and The Sims. The company also confirmed that Respawn Entertainment and DICE will collaborate on a future first-person shooter, while development of Marvel’s Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi title continues.

The cancellation of the next Mass Effect game represents a significant shift in direction. BioWare had been working on a sequel for several years, and as recently as November 2025, the studio assured fans that development was ongoing. However, EA now states that only a small team was involved in the project and has decided not to proceed further. While the planned sequel is canceled, EA has not ruled out the possibility of developing a new Mass Effect game in the future.

BioWare’s decline began well before the shutdown announcement. Mass Effect: Andromeda faced criticism upon its 2017 release, and Anthem, launched in 2019, struggled commercially and was eventually discontinued in 2021 after a major overhaul failed to revive interest. The studio’s most recent title, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, also failed to meet expectations. In January 2025, it was reported that Dragon Age had performed nearly 50% below EA’s projections, contributing to a loss of approximately $66 billion in market value. Later that same month, BioWare underwent restructuring, with several employees reassigned to other EA studios.

ITavisen reported the story.