BioWare will close its Edmonton studio and halt early development on the next Mass Effect, parent company Electronic Arts said as it reorganizes priorities.
Bloomberg reported roughly 400 EA roles were cut, about three percent of the publisher’s workforce, with around 50 positions affected at BioWare.
EA executives Cam Weber and David Tinson described a strategic refocus in a memo that said the company would concentrate teams, technology, and investment on three priorities called Deepen Our Core, Expand Our Reach, and Transform Our Business.
The canceled Mass Effect project had been in early development, according to EA. IGN reported the title would have been set hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3 and would return the narrative to the Milky Way setting.
IGN also said the Prime Video live action Mass Effect series remains in development at Amazon MGM Studios, and that co-showrunner Daniel Casey rejected claims the adaptation had been rewritten to appeal more to non-gamers.
Longtime BioWare staffer Mike Gamble posted that fan support had meant everything during his 17 years at the studio. IGN’s coverage collected fan and industry reaction to the closure and cancellation.
Impact And Company Strategy
EA said it will continue major franchises and invest in teams and projects it views as the largest growth opportunities. The company named Respawn’s Apex Legends, action adventures including Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi 3 and EA Motive’s Marvel’s Iron Man, and Battlefield as ongoing focuses.
Variety reported that Respawn and DICE are collaborating on what has been described as Star Wars Battlefront 3. EA said it will also invest heavily in Apex Legends with new modes and experiences over the coming years.
The memo outlined other portfolio moves. Project Gridiron and a Fight Night revival are in development, Project Evergreen for The Sims continues, and Project Lotus has been paused. Skate will retain a smaller, more focused team to follow a clearer roadmap.
The cuts follow EA’s move to go private in a leveraged buyout reported at $55 billion, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. EA said saying no to some projects allows it to focus resources on franchises it deems highest priority.
