EA has confirmed it is shutting down acclaimed game developers BioWare as part of cost-cutting measures.
Last year it was confirmed that EA would be sold to a group of investors that includes Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (CEO of Affinity Partners) and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in a deal thought to be worth more than $55billion.
Yesterday (October 21) it was reported that 400 members of staff (around 3 per cent of EA’s workforce) would be laid off due to “changes” in the industry. Shortly afterwards it was confirmed that the entire team at BioWare had been let go, and the development studio would be closed.
“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,” read a statement from the team behind Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect and Anthem. “Now, after more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending.
“There is nothing easy about writing those words. Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition,” the statement continued. “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.”
— BioWare (@bioware) October 21, 2026
In a memo sent to staff, EA bosses Cam Weber and David Tinson blamed industry changes for the lay-offs. “Players have more choices than ever for their time and attention, competition is intensifying, and some of our biggest opportunities for growth are beyond the markets, platforms, and business models where EA has traditionally been the strongest.”
A live-action adaptation of Mass Effect is still in the works at Amazon and will continue the story that started in the games.
Earlier this year, original Dragon Age creator David Gaider said he believed the franchise was finished after 2024’s Veilguard was a flop.
The post ‘Mass Effect’ sequel cancelled as acclaimed developer BioWare closes appeared first on NME.