Electronic Arts (EA) is closing BioWare, the studio behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age games, and cutting about 400 jobs. EA told staff about the plan in an email on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, according to Dawn. The company says it is narrowing its game list to focus on projects it sees as more profitable. Here is what is known.
What EA Announced
- EA will close BioWare and its studio in Edmonton, Canada.
- An early-stage Mass Effect project will be cancelled. BioWare said on X that “early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending.”
- Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the plans, reported about 400 job cuts. That is roughly 3% of EA’s staff, and about 50 of the jobs are at BioWare. EA has not confirmed these figures in the reports I read.
Game Informer reports that a staff letter from EA’s chief operating officer David Tinson and chief studios officer Cam Weber said the company had taken a “hard look at our business” and would cut projects. The letter called BioWare “a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre.” A small BioWare team had been working on early development of the next Mass Effect game, and EA decided not to move forward with it, according to Game Informer.
Why EA Says It Is Doing This
Dawn says EA is focusing on more lucrative projects and fewer large action-adventure games. The company is also under new ownership. EA was taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, and the deal closed in August, according to Dawn. EA’s chief executive Andrew Wilson said the company was entering “this next chapter from a position of strength,” Game Informer reports.
What Is Continuing
- Marvel’s Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game remain in development, according to Dawn.
- Game Informer says sports games, shooters such as Apex Legends and more Battlefield games also continue.
- The team behind the skateboarding game skate is being reorganised into a smaller, more focused studio.
- Game Informer reports that a planned Sims game is reportedly on hold in favour of another project. This is a report and not an EA announcement.
What About Dragon Age?
The reports I read do not say whether any Dragon Age project is affected. Game Informer notes that Dragon Age: The Veilguard was BioWare’s final game.
BioWare’s Story
BioWare’s farewell statement listed its games: Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect and Anthem. Game Informer says the studio had a troubled recent history. Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem were poorly received, and The Veilguard was better reviewed but followed a decade of difficult development.
What Happens to the Staff?
Dawn reports that EA says it will help affected employees explore other opportunities inside the company. The reports do not say how many BioWare staff will be offered new roles.
What It Means for Fans
- The next Mass Effect game was at a very early stage and is no longer in development at BioWare.
- Existing games are not mentioned as affected in the reports I read.
- Whether EA will make Mass Effect or Dragon Age games elsewhere has not been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BioWare closing?
Yes. EA plans to close BioWare and its Edmonton studio.
How many jobs are being cut?
About 400 across EA, including about 50 at BioWare, according to Bloomberg as reported by Dawn and Game Informer.
Is Mass Effect cancelled?
An early-stage Mass Effect project is ending. EA has not said more.
What about Dragon Age?
The reports do not say.
Which games will EA keep making?
Iron Man, the next Star Wars Jedi game, sports games, Battlefield and Apex Legends, among others.
The closure ends a studio that made many well-known role-playing games. For fans, the key question is whether the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series will continue in another form.
