Electronic Arts closes BioWare after more than 30 years

Electronic Arts is closing BioWare after more than 30 years of operation and shutting its Edmonton workspace, ending early development on the next Mass Effect game and cutting about 400 jobs companywide, including roughly 50 at BioWare, the publisher said Oct. 21, 2026.

The studio closure came less than three months after Electronic Arts completed a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners on Aug. 4, taking the publisher private. Bloomberg reported that the transaction placed around $18B in debt on EA’s books. Bloomberg reported that after going private, EA told investors it planned to save up to $700 million, partly through research and development cost reductions.

BioWare staff learned of the closure in a letter from EA chief operating officer David Tinson and chief studios officer Cam Weber. Bloomberg reviewed the staff letter, which said EA reviewed its business over several months and decided not to proceed with early development on the next Mass Effect game. Tinson and Weber said “over the past several months, we’ve taken a hard look at our business.” Fans had sometimes called the cancelled title Mass Effect 5, and it appeared not ready for full production, though BioWare had insisted it remained in development.

EA is also cancelling a planned Sims game code-named Project Lotus while prioritizing Project Evergreen for The Sims. The publisher is reducing the team behind the skateboarding game skate. to a smaller, focused group. The staff letter explained that skate. needs a smaller team to deliver a clear roadmap and a healthier, sustainable business. EA’s letter to staff covered these changes alongside the BioWare closure.

A person familiar with EA’s plans told Bloomberg that roughly 400 employees will lose their jobs across the company, a figure equal to about three percent of its total workforce. Approximately 50 of those cuts fall on BioWare staff. EA described the job reductions as deliberate choices to align talent and investments with growth opportunities.

EA said it will continue funding sports games, Apex Legends, the next Star Wars Jedi game and a new Marvel’s Iron Man game, and that Battlefield will also continue. Respawn and DICE will collaborate on a new project that Bloomberg reports is likely a new Star Wars: Battlefront title.

BioWare was founded in 1995 and bought by EA in 2007, and TNW describes Mass Effect 2 as one of the studio’s hits. The studio endured a difficult stretch in recent years. Mass Effect Andromeda had a rough launch, and Anthem, a live-service game updated over time after launch, quickly lost players. Dragon Age: The Veilguard missed EA’s internal sales expectations, and Bloomberg reported that weak sales led EA to cut BioWare’s headcount during the prior year.

TNW places EA’s reductions alongside broader industry retrenchment. In June, three Xbox studios were negotiating to spin off rather than close. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund already owns Savvy Games and has reportedly weighed merging it with EA.

EA will hold a Global Town Hall in November to discuss the company’s direction and the work ahead with staff. The staff letter invited employees to talk with leaders about that direction.