Electronic Arts has officially closed the doors on BioWare, the esteemed RPG developer behind franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The studio, founded over 31 years ago in 1995, is responsible for seminal titles such as the original Baldur's Gate games.
In a statement shared on social media, the studio reflected on its legacy. "What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember," the statement read. "These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with the characters, and made these worlds your own."
Rumors of BioWare's impending closure had circulated, with anonymous staff members expressing concerns about the studio's future following EA's recent acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. One staffer noted last year that it felt like "a matter of time" before the studio would be shut down.
Plans for a new Mass Effect game, first teased in 2020, have now been cancelled. A core team at BioWare had reportedly been working on the title, even amidst earlier layoffs.
Furthermore, reports indicate that EA is implementing broader layoffs, cutting approximately 400 jobs across the company.