Electronic Arts said on October 21, 2026, that it will close BioWare and the studio’s Edmonton workspace, ending more than three decades of game development under the BioWare name. EA also confirmed that it will not continue early development of the next Mass Effect project. The decision was announced in a company-wide message outlining a broader effort to concentrate teams and investment on fewer projects that EA believes have stronger long-term growth potential.
BioWare separately confirmed the closure in a farewell statement. The studio listed the series that defined its history, including Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect and Anthem. It said its immediate focus was supporting employees through the transition and thanked players for the communities they built around the studio’s games. Neither official statement provided a precise date when all operations will end.
EA said a small BioWare team had been working on the Mass Effect project in early development. The company’s decision not to move forward means that version of the project is ending rather than being transferred to another announced studio. EA did not present a replacement Mass Effect game or a timetable for returning to the franchise. Claims about a future revival would therefore be speculative unless the publisher issues another formal announcement.
The closure is part of a wider portfolio reorganization. EA said Respawn and DICE will collaborate on a future project while investment continues in Battlefield and Apex. The publisher also reiterated work on Marvel’s Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game. Within its lifestyle portfolio, EA said it is prioritizing Project Evergreen for The Sims and pausing Project Lotus. A new Fight Night project is also in pre-production.
Job reductions extend beyond BioWare. Reuters reported that employees will be laid off as EA narrows its slate, although its initial account did not specify a total. Bloomberg reported that about 400 positions, roughly 3% of EA’s workforce, would be cut, including approximately 50 BioWare roles, citing a person familiar with the plans. Those figures were not included in EA’s public announcement and should be treated as reported estimates rather than official totals.
BioWare’s closure marks the end of a studio widely associated with choice-driven role-playing games, companion characters and long-form science-fiction and fantasy worlds. Its influence stretches across several generations of PC and console games. EA said affected employees would receive support in exploring other opportunities inside the company. Severance terms, regional timelines and the number of possible internal transfers were not disclosed. What is confirmed is that BioWare is closing, its Edmonton workspace will shut and the early-development Mass Effect project will not proceed.
