David Gaider reflects on BioWare's closure and its peak years
EA has announced it is closing BioWare as part of a restructuring that includes 400 layoffs. Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider said the studio was unmatched at its peak and had a lasting influence on games. He recalled the response to Baldur's Gate 2's launch as a favorite memory.
EA is closing BioWare as part of a restructuring that includes 400 layoffs. The studio's ownership changed after EA's September 2025 announcement of a $55 billion acquisition; by August 2026 it was held by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Gaider joined in 1999, later led writing on early Dragon Age games, left in 2016, and co-founded Summerfall Studios in 2019.
He remembered Baldur's Gate 2's September 2000 launch: the team worried fans would spot cut content and bugs, yet the next day staff read aloud glowing forum posts and reviews. It was his first industry job and release, and he said that response convinced him to remain in games.
The closure could affect more than BioWare's fans. The 400 layoffs may reshape careers and local game-development communities, while players may lose a studio whose RPGs shaped expectations for narrative choice. It may also intensify concerns about how acquisitions and restructuring affect creative continuity and cultural memory in games. The impact is likely to be felt gradually, as former staff move on and audiences reassess a legacy that once seemed permanent.