The end of an era: EA buries BioWare and the next Mass Effect

For over three decades, BioWare shaped the world of role-playing games. Mass Effect, Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars and much more – now Electronic Arts is drawing a line under it all. Fans and developers are saying goodbye to a studio that has accompanied generations.

Earth is burning. Giant Reapers darken the sky as Commander Shepard flees destruction aboard the Normandy. Through the window, Shepard watches a young boy who has just managed to board an evacuation shuttle. Then a beam strikes the ship. It bursts into flames and sinks to the ground before his eyes.

It is one of the most powerful scenes in *Mass Effect 3*. A painful farewell to a world that Shepard called home. Now the fan community itself faces a similar loss. After more than 30 years, the development studio BioWare is closing its doors. And the story had not yet been told to the end. Yet players will wait in vain for a sequel.

EA draws a line under it

On Wednesday, BioWare itself announced the studio’s closure. Owner Electronic Arts is shutting down the developer as part of a restructuring. The site in Edmonton, Canada, is also being closed. According to information from Bloomberg, around 400 jobs are to be cut across the group, around 50 of them at BioWare. EA confirmed the job cuts but did not give any specific figures.

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— BioWare (@bioware) 21 October 2026

EA intends to focus its resources on fewer projects in future. This effectively spells the end, for the time being, for the next Mass Effect, which was still in an early stage of development. However, other projects, including Marvel’s Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi, are set to continue.

Fans had been given new hope less than a year ago. A return to the Mass Effect universe had been announced. That is why, for many, it feels like more than just a stab in the heart – as if EA were rubbing salt into the wound.

More than 30 years of stories

BioWare shaped entire generations of role-players with Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. It was the personal stories in particular that made the studio famous: decisions had consequences, companions became friends and sometimes led to breathtaking love stories.

But recently, success has eluded them. Mass Effect: Andromeda disappointed many fans, Anthem flopped, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard also failed to meet EA’s commercial expectations. BioWare had already undergone staff cuts by early 2025.

Grief, gratitude and anger

Reactions to the announcement have been emotional. Fans are sharing memories of their adventures with Commander Shepard or the companions from Dragon Age. Others are directing their anger towards Electronic Arts.

Development studios are also bidding farewell to BioWare. Owlcat Games – known for Pathfinder, amongst other titles – described the news as “heart-wrenching” and recalled how much the studio’s stories had influenced their own work. Telltale Games – responsible for the adventure series *The Walking Dead* – and Remedy Entertainment – *Max Payne* – expressed their gratitude for BioWare’s legacy.

In its farewell statement, BioWare paid tribute to the players who have brought its worlds to life over the decades. No new titles will be produced as a result. However, the stories, choices and memories from the existing games will remain.