EA shuts down BioWare

Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare, the longtime studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, as part of a new round of layoffs affecting approximately 400 employees.

Cancels next Mass Effect game

The closure ends the studio’s more than 30-year history and comes as EA cancels the next Mass Effect game, which was in early development.

400 layoffs impact

According to Bloomberg, the cuts will impact roughly 3% of EA’s workforce, including approximately 50 employees at BioWare.

EA went private

The announcement comes just two months after EA went private following a $55 billion leveraged buyout led by Saudi Arabia’s investment fund.

BioWare statement

BioWare confirmed the news on X: '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.'

“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.”

BioWare's history

BioWare was founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, becoming known for its roleplaying games including Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises.

Recent struggles

BioWare struggled in recent years after Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem received criticism, with Dragon Age: The Veilguard failing sales expectations in 2024.