Electronic Arts is closing the renowned game development studio BioWare after 30 years in operation, with the forthcoming Mass Effect title scrapped. The next instalment would have been the fifth since 2007.
BioWare confirmed the shutdown via social media overnight after Bloomberg reported the news, which also revealed the company is cutting 400 jobs, with approximately 50 of those at BioWare.
Acquisition and Job Cuts
The Redwood Shores, California-based publisher behind hit franchises such as Battlefield and The Sims finalised the $55 billion acquisition of its operations by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, headed by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
EA representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the redundancies.
BioWare's Legacy and Recent Struggles
"What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember," the studio posted on social media. "These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with characters, and made these worlds your own."
BioWare earned its standing through captivating role-playing experiences, spanning from medieval fantasy adventures like Baldur's Gate and Dragon Age to sci-fi masterpieces including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect.
However, the studio's attempt to venture into multiplayer shooters with 2019's Anthem diverted from BioWare's core expertise in crafting gripping single-player stories. The game struggled to attract the dedicated fanbase that sustains online successes such as Fortnite and Overwatch.
At the same time, the most recent entries in its two flagship original series - 2017's Mass Effect: Andromeda and 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard - received lukewarm critical reception and left numerous fans underwhelmed. Development of a fresh Mass Effect instalment was underway prior to BioWare revealing its closure.
The Canadian-based BioWare was established in 1995 and became part of EA in 2007.
