Electronic Arts confirmed the closure of BioWare, the studio behind iconic role-playing games including Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur’s Gate. The shutdown comes after EA was taken private by an investor group led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in a deal that closed in August.
According to EA leadership, the decision stems from a strategic refocus of the company’s operations. Cam Weber, EA president and chief studios officer, and David Tinson, EA president and COO, stated in an announcement that “BioWare is a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre, and we do not take this decision lightly.”
As part of the closure, EA is halting early development on the next Mass Effect game that was in the works at BioWare. The studio’s Edmonton workspace will also close. Bloomberg reports that approximately 50 BioWare employees are among the roughly 400 staff members being laid off across EA.
BioWare’s statement acknowledged the studio’s three-decade history, saying: “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.” The message referenced the studio’s major franchises and concluded with gratitude to players who engaged with BioWare’s worlds.
BioWare’s recent performance has struggled compared to its legacy titles. Mass Effect: Andromeda in 2017 was widely viewed as a misstep for the franchise. The studio’s 2019 live-service game Anthem did not meet expectations. Additionally, EA laid off some BioWare staff in 2025 after Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed sales targets.
The BioWare closure is part of a broader industry shift. Xbox announced a “reset” involving 3,200 cuts, Bungie made “significant” layoffs, and Epic Games cut over 1,000 positions. EA’s announcement outlined other strategic changes, including collaboration between Respawn and DICE studios on a future project, continued development of Marvel’s Iron Man and a new Star Wars Jedi title, and new sports games including “Project Gridiron” and a returning Fight Night boxing title.
The status of Amazon’s Mass Effect TV series remains unclear. An EA spokesperson said they had “nothing to share” on that project at this time.
Key facts
- BioWare, developer of Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Knights of the Old Republic, is permanently closing after over 30 years
- Development on the next Mass Effect game is being canceled
- Approximately 50 BioWare employees are among roughly 400 EA staff being laid off
- EA’s closure decision follows the company’s $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
- BioWare’s recent games, including Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, underperformed commercially