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On October 21, 2026, Electronic Arts announced the closure of BioWare and its Edmonton facilities. The publisher stated it would no longer continue development on the early-stage Mass Effect project, marking the end of the legendary studio's 30-year history.
Former writers for the project have expressed their disappointment on social media. Author Catherynne M. Valente confirmed the team was working on a great game, while science fiction writer Derek Künsken noted he contributed to the title intermittently over the last five years.
Künsken described the collaborative process as highly stimulating, noting that he and Valente worked on the story, characters, mythology, and science fiction elements for the next chapter of the Mass Effect universe. He expects to share more details about his contributions in the coming weeks.
While fans hope EA might sell BioWare's intellectual properties, former executive producer Mark Darrah remains cautious. He suggested a sale is slightly more plausible now as EA seeks to offset the $55 billion debt from its private investment acquisition earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Prime Video series remains in development.
