Key information
Electronic Arts has announced the closure of BioWare and its Edmonton studio, ending a 31-year history that included franchises like Dragon Age and Mass Effect. This decision includes the cancellation of early development on the next Mass Effect title, which was initially announced in November 2020.
The studio's recent performance may have influenced the outcome, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard engaged approximately 1.5 million players during its quarter, falling nearly 50% short of internal expectations. General manager Gary McKay previously noted that only a core team was assigned to the next Mass Effect project.
EA stated that affected employees will receive support in finding other roles within the company, though no specific job count was provided. While the studio is closing, EA did not explicitly declare the Mass Effect or Dragon Age franchises dead.
Moving forward, EA intends to prioritize its core business, focusing resources on Battlefield, Marvel’s Iron Man, and a Fight Night revival. The company plans to discuss its future direction with staff during a Global Town Hall scheduled for November.
