Electronic Arts Shuts Down BioWare and Cancels Next Mass Effect Project

Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare and its Edmonton studio, a decision detailed in a recent letter to staff. The move also confirms that early development on the next Mass Effect game has been halted, with the company electing not to continue with that work. BioWare's 31-year run included franchises such as Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur's Gate.

Electronic Arts acquired BioWare in 2008, and the parent company went private in August. While Electronic Arts described BioWare as a legendary studio, its strategic focus is shifting toward other projects. The company is prioritizing Battlefield, Marvel's Iron Man, and a Fight Night revival. Electronic Arts cited Battlefield 6 as a great success and is also focusing on Apex Legends modes and the next Star Wars Jedi game.

The company's communication to staff outlined three priorities: Deepen Our Core, Expand Our Reach, and Transform Our Business. Within this framework, Project Gridiron is presented as a social-first, open-world experience from the American football team, while a Fight Night revival is currently in pre-production. Electronic Arts also intends to prioritize efforts on Project Evergreen for The Sims. Employees impacted by the closure will be supported in exploring other opportunities within Electronic Arts.

Electronic Arts did not provide a specific job count for the closure, nor did it declare the Mass Effect or Dragon Age series dead. The company did not address BioWare's previously released games. The reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024 may have played a partial role in the decision, though Electronic Arts did not confirm this. The game engaged about 1.5 million players during the quarter in early 2025, down nearly 50% from company expectations.

Around that time, BioWare general manager Gary McKay said that only a core team was working on the next Mass Effect game and did not require support from the full studio. The studio's closure follows a broader industry trend of job cuts, such as Microsoft's announcement of 3,200 Xbox job cuts in July citing low margins. The company has not revealed any dates for major titles, but it plans to discuss its direction with staff at a Global Town Hall in November.