EA to shut down BioWare and its Edmonton studio

Electronic Arts is closing BioWare and its Edmonton studio. The company confirmed the shutdown in a letter to employees. Early work on a new Mass Effect game has also been dropped. EA did not say how many jobs would be affected.

BioWare was founded in 1995. Over its 31-year history, the studio built a long list of well-known titles. These include Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect. EA acquired BioWare in 2008.

In its letter, EA said it will not move forward with the development that was underway for the next Mass Effect game. That project was first announced in November 2020. A trailer followed that December. The studio also released a remastered collection of the original Mass Effect trilogy in 2021. Its most recent release was Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024. EA reported that Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached about 1.5 million players during one quarter last year. That figure was down nearly 50% from what the company had projected.

The company's statement to staff focused on three areas: strengthening core products, reaching new audiences, and transforming its business. EA pointed to Battlefield 6 as a major success. Other projects in development include new Apex Legends modes, Marvel's Iron Man, and the next Star Wars Jedi game. A new Fight Night game is in pre-production. EA also said it will prioritize work on 'Project Evergreen' for The Sims.

People affected by the closure will get support finding other roles within EA. The company did not say if the Mass Effect or Dragon Age series will continue. EA has not shared any release dates for its upcoming titles.

BioWare general manager Gary McKay said in 2024 that a core team was working on the next Mass Effect game. He said the project did not need help from the full studio at that time. Staff were then matched with other teams at EA.

This kind of change is not new for the industry. In July, Microsoft announced it was cutting 3,200 jobs across its Xbox division. The company cited low margins for those cuts.

EA plans to talk with staff about its plans and future work at a Global Town Hall in November. No other details on the timing have been shared. The company is focusing on its core franchises.