After three decades in operation, BioWare is shutting its doors
Image credit: EA / BioWare
After over 30 years in the gaming industry, BioWare, known for its titles Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is set to close its doors, ending the initial phases of the next Mass Effect game's development.
The announcement was made through a social media post, where BioWare described itself as a place for innovative narrative creators and game developers.
The studio's portfolio includes popular titles like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem.
The statement acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, emphasizing their current focus on supporting their talented team during this transition.
According to Bloomberg, Electronic Arts is expected to eliminate approximately 400 positions, which is about 3% of its workforce. Around 50 of these will come from BioWare, based on information from someone familiar with the situation.
A message circulated to staff and seen by Bloomberg, penned by EA's chief operating officer David Tinson and chief studios officer Cam Weber, indicated that after evaluating their business operations, EA has decided to cut back on certain projects, impacting the forthcoming Mass Effect title in development at BioWare.
This closure follows EA's acquisition completion involving PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, finalized on August 4, less than a quarter ago.
The underperformance of BioWare's latest game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, in terms of sales is cited by Bloomberg as a factor that led to significant changes at the studio last year.
Bloomberg's report mentions that EA intends to continue development on titles like Apex Legends, Battlefield, the subsequent installment of the Star Wars Jedi series, and an upcoming Iron Man game, while having scaled down resources for the team working on skate. Additionally, a planned Sims game, known internally as Project Lotus, has been shelved.
The complete statement reads:
BioWare has long been a cherished place for storytellers and developers, as well as the gaming community that engaged with their imaginative worlds over decades.
Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem stand out in the gaming trove.
Now, crossing over three decades of shared experiences, BioWare will close, ceasing early work on the next Mass Effect chapter.
The statement expressed the complex emotions involved, while highlighting their focus on assisting team members who have dedicated themselves to crafting beloved games during this change.
The collective achievements of BioWare over the years are recognized as a testament to their fan base's passionate involvement—which is what truly brought these virtual universes to life.
The team extends heartfelt gratitude to players for being an integral part of their storytelling legacy.