Electronic Arts Closes BioWare and Cancels Next Mass Effect Project

Electronic Arts has officially closed BioWare, ending nearly three decades of game development from the acclaimed Canadian studio. Established in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, the team built its legacy on seminal role-playing franchises such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect.

The closure directly halts active development on the upcoming Mass Effect installment, effectively canceling the early-stage project often referred to as Mass Effect 5. The studio's final shipped title was the 2024 fantasy release Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

According to the studio's social media statement, the current priority is assisting staff members through the transition. EA's decision to shutter the developer ties into wider corporate restructuring, which includes eliminating roughly 3% of the publisher's worldwide workforce.