Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare, the legendary RPG developer behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, as part of a major restructuring that will see approximately 400 employees lose their jobs. The closure also brings an end to development on the next Mass Effect game, which was still in its early stages.
EA confirmed the decision in an October 21 message to employees, with BioWare subsequently sharing its own farewell statement. According to Bloomberg, around 400 employees will be laid off across EA, representing approximately three percent of its workforce, including roughly 50 positions at BioWare.
“For more than 30 years, BioWare has been more than a studio,” the developer said in its statement, reflecting on the people who helped bring its games and worlds to life. The studio specifically acknowledged franchises such as Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem, thanking fans for making those experiences part of their lives.
Founded in 1995, BioWare became one of the industry’s most influential role-playing game developers, particularly through its work on story-driven adventures, memorable characters, and player-driven choices. The original Mass Effect trilogy helped establish the studio as a major name in science-fiction RPGs, while Dragon Age built another popular fantasy franchise. Its closure marks the end of a developer whose work helped shape the genre for decades.
The decision follows a difficult period for BioWare. Mass Effect: Andromeda received a mixed reception, while Anthem failed to establish the lasting success EA had hoped for. More recently, Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of EA’s sales expectations, contributing to the studio’s restructuring.
BioWare’s closure is part of a broader effort by EA to concentrate its resources on fewer projects and its biggest opportunities. In a message to employees, chief operating officer David Tinson and chief studios officer Cam Weber explained that the company had spent several months reviewing its business and deciding where to focus its investment.
Several other projects and teams are affected by the changes. EA is pausing development on Project Lotus, a planned Sims project, while continuing work on Project Evergreen. The free-to-play skate. will also continue, but with a smaller development team.
EA says it will continue investing in major franchises and upcoming projects, including Apex Legends, Battlefield, the next Star Wars Jedi game, and Marvel’s Iron Man. Respawn Entertainment and DICE will also collaborate on a future project, although EA has not officially identified it as a new Star Wars: Battlefront game.
For BioWare, however, the announcement is far more definitive. The studio is closing its Edmonton workspace, and early development on the next Mass Effect has ended. After more than three decades of creating some of gaming’s most recognizable RPGs, BioWare’s story is coming to a close.