EA closes BioWare and ends work on the next Mass Effect

File photo of office towers in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, where BioWare is based — Edmontonenthusiast / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Summary

EA said on Oct. 21 it is closing BioWare and its Edmonton workspace after deciding not to continue early development of the next Mass Effect.
Bloomberg reported about 400 job cuts across EA; EA's own post gives no number.
EA's post does not mention Dragon Age or say what happens to the franchises it owns.
EA also paused The Sims' Project Lotus and is shrinking the skate. team.

What EA announced

Electronic Arts said on Wednesday it is closing BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, after deciding not to move forward with the next Mass Effect game, which a small team had been developing at an early stage. The company published the news in a post titled "Building EA's Next Chapter" on Oct. 21, signed by its leaders Cam and David, and first shared with employees.^[1]

The post says EA is closing the BioWare studio and its Edmonton workspace, and calls the studio "legendary". It says affected employees will be supported in finding other roles within EA, and that more detail will come at a global town hall in November.^{[1] [2]}

The reported number of job cuts

Bloomberg, which broke the story, reported that EA is cutting about 400 jobs and shutting BioWare. Specialist outlet Insider Gaming, citing the same reporting, said around 50 of those roles were at BioWare. EA's post does not give a total, so the 400 figure rests on Bloomberg's reporting.^{[3] [4]}

BioWare's own account on X confirmed that early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending, according to Shacknews.^[5]

Other changes across EA

The post frames the moves around three priorities: deepening EA's core franchises, expanding reach into new platforms and markets including Asia, and new fan engagement built on its sports relationships. Respawn and DICE will work together on a future project, and Marvel's Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game remain planned, with fewer large projects running at once.^[1]

In lifestyle games, The Sims' Project Evergreen gets priority while Project Lotus is paused, and skate. moves to a smaller team. EA Sports will keep investing in FC and has new projects including Project Gridiron and a return of Fight Night.^{[1] [4]}

What is not known

EA's post does not mention Dragon Age. EA retains the Mass Effect and Dragon Age intellectual property, and no source reviewed says whether it will be sold, licensed or handed to another studio. Insider Gaming reported that the next Mass Effect will not move to another internal studio. Support for existing BioWare games was not addressed in the EA post.^{[1] [4]}

Insider Gaming also reported, citing sources, that more cuts may follow over the next 12 to 18 months. That is unconfirmed by EA.^[4]

Background

BioWare, founded in Edmonton, made Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. Anthem (2019) was a commercial failure, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024) fell short of EA's expectations, followed by staff cuts in 2025, Inven Global reported. The next Mass Effect was first revealed in 2020.^[6]

The decision comes after EA's roughly $55 billion takeover by a consortium that includes Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Silver Lake, which Inven Global says completed in August 2026. Insider Gaming called the BioWare closure the first major move under the new owners. Staff had worried about the studio's future for about a year, it reported.^{[4] [6]}

Reporting sources

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