EA Shuts Down BioWare After Three Decades, Cancels New 'Mass Effect' Amid 400 Layoffs

Electronic Arts is closing BioWare, the studio behind "Mass Effect" and "Dragon Age," and has canceled the next "Mass Effect" title, the fifth since 2007. BioWare announced the closure on social media Wednesday, following a Bloomberg report that EA is cutting 400 jobs, including about 50 at BioWare. The Redwood Shores, California-based publisher recently closed its $55 billion sale to Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF, Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, the firm run by Jared Kushner. EA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the layoffs. Canada-based BioWare, founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, built its reputation on single-player role-playing games including "Baldur's Gate," "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" and "Mass Effect." Its 2019 multiplayer shooter "Anthem" departed from that strength, while 2017's "Mass Effect: Andromeda" and 2024's "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" drew mixed reviews.