BioWare Is Officially Shut Down By EA
In a move that a lot of people have unfortunately been expecting, video game publisher Electronic Arts is officially shutting down the legendary RPG developer BioWare. The decision is part of a total restructuring by EA…
In a move that a lot of people have unfortunately been expecting, video game publisher Electronic Arts is officially shutting down the legendary RPG developer BioWare.
The decision is part of a total restructuring by EA, where they're cutting 400 jobs, which is roughly 3% of their entire workforce. Said restructuring is taking place two months after the leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts was finalized on August 4th, 2026. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, private equity firm Silver Lake, and investment firm Affinity Partners purchased the company for $55 billion.
In a memo to the company obtained by Variety, EA claims that they have, over the past few months, "taken a hard look at our business, how we operate, and what it will take to lead in this next era of interactive entertainment."
The company is looking to focus on "larger opportunities" and make "deliberate choices to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth."As a result, despite the fact that a small team at BioWare was working on early development for the next Mass Effect game, EA has made the decision to no longer move forward with the anticipated title. As a result, they are also closing the Edmonton-based studio.
BioWare put out a statement on social media, confirming the news.
What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember. These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with the characters, and made these worlds your own. From all of us at BioWare, thank you for being the most meaningful part of our story.
The Next Mass Effect Game Would Follow The Events Of The Original Trilogy
After the disappointing and divisive Mass Effect Andromeda, the next planned entry in the series was going to go back where it all began: the Milky Way Galaxy.
First revealed at The Game Awards in 2020, the official teaser trailer for the next Mass Effect game featured some familiar characters, notably Liara T'Soni, who is picking up an N7-armor decal, which presumably belonged to Commander Shepard.
2017's Mass Effect: Andromeda took a different route, sending players to the Andromeda Galaxy with a new cast of characters, led by either Scott or Sara Ryder as they look to find a new home world for humanity.
With BioWare's closure and the cancellation of the next Mass Effect game, it's unclear whether or not the franchise will ever return. EA seems to be focused on more live service opportunities designed to generate continued and sustained revenue streams, especially through their sports games and the Apex Legends franchise. None of that vision aligns with a single-player narrative-driven RPG like Mass Effect or Dragon Age.
The news comes in the wake of sustained success for single-player games. The excellent turn-based strategy game Star Wars Zero Company quickly sold over one million copies. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt recently had a free remaster release and has a new expansion set to release in 2027. Speaking of remasters, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold 2 million copies in its first day and broke 3.5 million copies sold in just two weeks. 2021's Mass Effect: Legendary Edition was also a sales success for EA. Sadly, I guess it wasn't good enough to be part of their long-term future.
Mass Effect Trilogy Action RPG Third-Person Shooter Systems 9.5/10Released November 6, 2012 ESRB t Developer(s) BioWare Publisher(s) Microsoft Engine Unreal Engine 3