BioWare is shutting down after Electronic Arts decided not to move forward with early development of the next Mass Effect, the publisher said in a company statement cited in reporting. The studio's Edmonton workspace will close and roughly 50 roles at BioWare were affected, Bloomberg reported.
EA announced wider cuts that amount to about 400 positions, which Bloomberg described as roughly 3 percent of the publisher's total staff. The company said the choice aligns with a shift in its strategic priorities and a desire to concentrate teams and investment on a smaller set of franchises and business models.
The cancelled Mass Effect project had been teased by BioWare for several years. IGN reported the game would have been set hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3 and would re-centre the narrative in the franchise's original Milky Way setting after the Reapers were defeated. Fans and staff had expected more information following public teases and N7 Day remarks from executive producer Mike Gamble.
IGN also said the Prime Video live action Mass Effect series remains in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Daniel Casey, a co-showrunner on the TV project, earlier refuted a report that the adaptation had been rewritten to appeal more to non-gamers.
Wider EA Restructuring And Industry Implications
In a memo to staff, Cam Weber and David Tinson described EA as "the number one publisher in Western HD gaming" and warned the industry is changing quickly. They wrote the company will "concentrate our teams, technology, and investment" behind three priorities called Deepen Our Core, Expand Our Reach, and Transform Our Business.
EA said it will continue to invest in sports franchises and major titles. The company plans new work in its FC franchise and named two projects set for reveal in coming months, Project Gridiron and a Fight Night revival in pre-production. EA also said it will keep backing Apex Legends and future Battlefield releases.
Variety reported that Respawn and DICE are collaborating on a project reportedly titled Star Wars Battlefront 3. The publisher emphasized fewer simultaneous large action projects, while continuing development on Star Wars Jedi 3 and Marvel's Iron Man at Respawn and Motive respectively, according to the company note cited by IGN.
The memo framed the studio changes as hard choices to focus resources. Staff reactions included a social media post from Mike Gamble thanking supporters for 17 years at BioWare, and wider reporting described the move as the end of a studio credited with shaping modern role playing games.
