Overview
- EA confirmed Wednesday that it will close BioWare, end active development of the Mass Effect sequel and cut about 400 jobs globally.
- Company leaders said the decision was a cost-saving step tied to the $55 billion buyout that left roughly $20 billion of acquisition-related debt on EA.
- EA will reallocate resources toward sports franchises and live-service games that produce steady recurring revenue rather than long, story-driven single-player RPGs.
- BioWare’s closure follows years of shrinking staff and commercial setbacks, including Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem and recent Dragon Age performance, which left the studio working with a small team.
- The move ends work on a game first announced in 2020, deepens uncertainty about the future of BioWare’s IP and will affect around 50 staff at the Edmonton studio while signaling broader industry pressure to favor live-service models.