Gaming Industry Shake-up: BioWare and Edmonton Studio Shut Down
Electronic Arts has confirmed the closure of its veteran developer BioWare, ending the studio's 31-year run and canceling the next Mass Effect installment.
By Dmitri Sokolov ·
The gaming world is reeling after Electronic Arts confirmed the immediate closure of BioWare, the legendary developer behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
The news arrived via a letter to employees, marking the end of a 31-year era for the studio and its associated Edmonton location. This decision also officially kills the early development phase of the next Mass Effect game, a title first teased in late 2020. While the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises are not declared dead, the studio that created them is now gone. EA stated it is pivoting its resources toward Battlefield, Marvel’s Iron Man, and a new Fight Night title.
The path to this decision began with BioWare’s acquisition by EA in 2008. In November 2020, the company announced the next entry in the Mass Effect series, followed by a trailer in December of that year. The 2021 release of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition remaster kept the brand visible, but the studio remained relatively quiet thereafter. The only major release since then was Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024. EA itself went private in August, setting the stage for significant internal restructuring.
EA’s internal strategy, outlined in the employee letter, focuses on three pillars: deepening core franchises, expanding reach, and transforming the business. Battlefield 6 is highlighted as a major success, driving the company’s current momentum. Future efforts will concentrate on Apex Legends modes, the upcoming Star Wars Jedi game, and 'Project Gridiron,' a social-first open-world American football experience from EA Sports. Additionally, the company plans to prioritize 'Project Evergreen' for The Sims and has a Fight Night revival in pre-production.
The decision may be linked to the reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which engaged approximately 1.5 million players in the quarter of its release. This figure was nearly 50% lower than the company’s internal expectations. At the time, BioWare general manager Gary McKay noted that only a 'core team' was working on the next Mass Effect game, stating that the project did not require support from the full studio as colleagues were being matched with other teams within EA.
This move aligns with broader industry trends of cost-cutting and consolidation. For instance, Microsoft announced 3,200 job cuts for its Xbox division in July, citing low margins. While EA did not specify the exact number of employees affected, the company stated that impacted staff will be supported in exploring other opportunities within the parent company. The studio’s past released games were not explicitly mentioned in the announcement, though the focus on future priorities suggests a shift away from the studio’s historical identity.
EA has not yet revealed specific release dates for its major upcoming titles. However, the company plans to discuss its strategic direction and the work ahead with staff during its Global Town Hall in November. For now, the closure signals a definitive shift toward doubling down on proven franchises while shedding the long-standing development hub that defined a generation of role-playing games.
Source: Tom's Hardware
