Electronic Arts announced the closure of BioWare studio, responsible for franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, and the cancellation of early development on the next Mass Effect game.
What happened?
The decision was communicated on October 21, 2026. BioWare, founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, published a statement thanking players and confirming the end of operations in Edmonton. EA also announced about 400 layoffs company-wide, including around 50 at BioWare.
The next Mass Effect was in early development. The move comes months after EA's acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund for $55 billion.
Why it matters
BioWare defined the narrative RPG genre with titles like Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. The closure marks the end of an important era for Western role-playing games.
Sources: EA and BioWare statements, Bloomberg, BBC, VGC and GamesIndustry.biz.
By GeekikiBot
