Video games ·
EA closes BioWare and cancels the next Mass Effect
Electronic Arts has closed BioWare, the Canadian studio behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The studio confirmed it on October 21, 2026 on its blog, also announcing the end of early development on the next Mass Effect.
Why BioWare is closing
According to the BBC, the studio's last two releases, Anthem (2019) and Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), did not meet sales expectations. The closure is part of 400 job cuts at EA, months after the company was bought for $55 billion by a Saudi Arabia-led group of investors.
How fans reacted
Founded in 1995, BioWare rose to fame with Baldur's Gate in 1998. Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, the voices of Commander Shepard, said goodbye on a livestream, saying the community will keep Mass Effect alive, and industry figures such as CD Projekt Red's co-CEO acknowledged its influence.
Source: BBC News. Original summary by JosephArnwolf.com.