The gaming industry has been hit by wave after wave of layoffs and closures over the last few years, with little regard for their history. The latest on the chopping block is BioWare, which has released some of the most iconic video games of all time over the course of its 30 years in business. Unfortunately, they won’t be alone, as EA is laying off 350 other employees as well, along with the 50 that are part of the Bioware closure.
The studio shared a statement on X, saying that “for more than 30 years, BioWare has been more than a studio. It has been a home for storytellers, developers, and the players who brought our worlds to life. 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.”
Some of its greatest hits include classics like Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. There are a scant few other studios that can boast a list as great as this one.
Unfortunately for fans of the Mass Effect franchise, the closure of the studio means they won’t get to see the next installment in the series. EA says the project is being abandoned as it makes “choices to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth.” The silver lining here is that fans can at least look forward to the TV series currently in development at Amazon.
While it’s disappointing that we’ll likely never get another Mass Effect, the potentially bigger loss is the institutional knowledge that’s about to be cast aside.
When Alan isn’t watching his favorite streamers on Twitch he’s writing about tech, gaming and cybersecurity.
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