EA Shuts Down BioWare After 31 Years of Gaming Legacy

Electronic Arts (EA) has closed BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and other iconic series such as Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, after more than 30 years in operation. The studio, acquired by EA in 2008, was working on early development of the next Mass Effect game, but EA decided not to move forward with this development. The closure is part of EA’s broader strategy, which includes a focus on Battlefield, Iron Man, and a Fight Night revival.

BioWare, described by EA as a “legendary studio,” has been spared only a few lines in the recent letter to employees, as the company has shifted its priorities to three key areas: Deepen Our Core, Expand Our Reach, and Transform Our Business. Battlefield 6 has been highlighted as “a great success,” and EA is also focusing on Apex Legends modes, Marvel’s Iron Man, and the next Star Wars Jedi game. In addition, “Project Gridiron,” a social-first, open-world experience, is currently in pre-production under the EA Sports heading.

EA has not ruled out the possibility of future Mass Effect or Dragon Age games, and the company plans to discuss its direction and the work ahead with staff at its Global Town Hall in November. The studio’s employees will be supported in exploring other opportunities within EA, but the move marks the end of an era for a studio that had a significant impact on gaming over the past three decades.

The closure of BioWare follows a pattern in the industry, where job cuts are becoming increasingly common. Microsoft, for example, announced 3,200 Xbox job cuts in July, citing low margins. EA itself went private in August, signaling a major restructuring of its operations. The company did not reveal any dates for major titles, but its focus remains on core franchises and refocusing on what has been working.

EA did not give a job count, and neither the Mass Effect nor the Dragon Age series was declared dead. BioWare’s released games were also not mentioned. The reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which engaged about “1.5 million players during the quarter,” was “down nearly 50% from the company’s expectations.” This may have played a partial role in the decision, though EA did not say so. Around the same time, BioWare general manager Gary McKay said that only “a core team” was working on the next Mass Effect game and didn’t “require support from the full studio,” as colleagues were matched “with other teams at EA.”