Electronic Arts closes the legendary studio after 30 years and cancels the next Mass Effect game in a major corporate restructuring.
Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare, the longtime studio behind major roleplaying franchises, as part of a restructuring plan affecting approximately 400 employees. The sudden closure ends the developer's history spanning over three decades across the video game industry.
The sweeping corporate changes arrive just two months after Electronic Arts completed a massive 55 billion dollar leveraged buyout led by Saudi Arabia's investment fund. Alongside the studio closure, executives confirmed the cancellation of the next Mass Effect title, which was still in early development.
According to information published by dexerto, the workforce reductions impact roughly 3% of the publisher's total staff, including about 50 employees directly stationed at the studio. Chief Operating Officer David Tinson and Chief Studios Officer Cam Weber outlined the cuts in an internal letter.
BioWare History and Recent Struggles
Founded in 1995 and acquired by Electronic Arts in 2007, the developer built its reputation on defining roleplaying adventures throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. However, the studio later struggled following mixed critical receptions for Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem.
Its final release, Dragon Age The Veilguard, launched in 2024 but failed to meet commercial sales expectations set by corporate leadership. That underperformance ultimately drove significant staffing reductions at the studio in 2025 before the final closure decision.
Restructuring and Project Cancellations
The sweeping operational changes extend beyond the closure of BioWare, as Electronic Arts targets widespread research and development savings. The publisher previously identified opportunities to slash up to 700 million dollars in operating costs following its recent buyout.
As part of these cost-cutting measures, the company officially canceled Project Lotus, an upcoming installment in The Sims franchise. Instead, management elected to prioritize an alternative internal initiative known as Project Evergreen to secure future franchise growth.
Future of Major EA Franchises
Despite heavy cuts, development on other major titles will continue with adjusted team sizes. The studio working on the upcoming skateboarding game skate will face downsizing, while investments remain strong in sports titles, Apex Legends, and Battlefield.
Other ongoing initiatives include a new Star Wars Jedi game and an upcoming Marvel Iron Man title. Additionally, Respawn Entertainment and DICE will collaborate on a new project reported to be another installment in the Star Wars Battlefront franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Electronic Arts shut down BioWare?
Electronic Arts closed BioWare as part of a restructuring plan following its 55 billion dollar buyout, and after recent games like Dragon Age The Veilguard failed to meet sales expectations.
What happened to the next Mass Effect game?
The next Mass Effect game, which was still in the early stages of development at BioWare, has been completely canceled by Electronic Arts.
How many employees are affected by the EA layoffs?
The restructuring affects approximately 400 employees, representing about 3% of the total workforce at Electronic Arts, including roughly 50 workers at BioWare.
