EA Closes BioWare and Cancels New Mass Effect Project
Electronic Arts has confirmed that BioWare is shutting down after more than three decades. The closure is part of a wider EA restructuring that reportedly includes about 400 job cuts, with roughly 50 BioWare staff affected and the Edmonton office closing. Development of the next Mass Effect RPG, first teased in 2020, has been canceled while still in early stages.
BioWare’s shutdown ends a studio history spanning more than three decades and tied to role-playing series including Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Its earlier work on Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights also helped establish its reputation in the genre.
The canceled Mass Effect title had been teased in 2020 without a public name or release window. After Dragon Age: The Veilguard arrived in 2024, the studio directed more attention to that project; as late as November 2025, executive producer Mike Gamble reportedly restated support for the franchise.
The closure could affect more than BioWare employees: fans may lose a long-running RPG voice, while the Edmonton game community could feel the loss of a major studio. The reported cuts may also add uncertainty for workers across EA and heighten concerns about instability in game development. Players might see fewer story-driven sci-fi RPGs from this team, though the long-term impact remains uncertain.