BioWare is shutting down and Electronic Arts has canceled the studio’s early development on the next Mass Effect, the publisher announced after widespread layoffs reported by Bloomberg.
EA said roughly 400 roles across the company were cut, about three percent of its staff, with roughly 50 positions affected at BioWare. The company also confirmed it will close BioWare’s Edmonton workspace and end the small team that had been working on Mass Effect.
In an internal memo cited by EA, Cam Weber and David Tinson said the business faces rapid change and that the company must concentrate teams and investment on three strategic priorities called Deepen Our Core, Expand Our Reach, and Transform Our Business. The memo framed the studio closure and project cancellation as part of those decisions.
BioWare had spent years trying to replicate past successes and navigate several underperforming projects. Anthem and Dragon Age The Veilguard did not meet expectations, and Mass Effect Andromeda remains widely seen as a disappointment among fans. The studio had teased the next Mass Effect would return to the Milky Way setting, set centuries after Mass Effect 3, but that work will not continue. IGN reported the Prime Video live action Mass Effect series is still in development, and co-showrunner Daniel Casey denied reports that the series was rewritten to appeal to non-gamers.
Consequences And Industry Responses
EA said it will continue to invest in established franchises and teams. The publisher named Respawn’s Apex Legends, future Battlefield entries, Star Wars Jedi 3 at Respawn, and Marvel’s Iron Man at EA Motive as ongoing priorities. Variety reported that Respawn and DICE are collaborating on a project reported to be Star Wars Battlefront 3.
EA also outlined other initiatives. The publisher will keep working on The Sims projects such as Project Evergreen while pausing Project Lotus. It plans two new sports projects including Project Gridiron and a Fight Night revival, and it will scale teams on Skate to focus on long term engagement.
Reactions from within the community and industry were immediate. Mike Gamble, a long‑time BioWare producer, thanked fans and reflected on his 17 years at the studio in a social media post. IGN coverage included analysis and tributes from staff including Ryan McCaffrey and Jacqueline Thomas about BioWare’s legacy and the loss of Mass Effect 5.
