EA cancels new Mass Effect, closes BioWare after being bought by Saudi Arabia
By The creator of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, BioWare, is shutting down following over 30 years as a prominent RPG developer.
In a announcement released online today, studio executives affirmed that BioWare “is shutting down and initial development on the forthcoming Mass Effect title is ceasing.”
This revelation follows shortly after EA was taken over by private stakeholders headed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in a transaction that raised fears of closings and layoffs similar to this situation.
“There is nothing straightforward about composing those words,” BioWare’s statement mentions. “Our priority at this moment is on our exceptionally talented team who invested their passion into these games, and nurturing each other through this adjustment.”
The message highlights several franchises that contemporary enthusiasts, who may recognize BioWare as the creator of Dragon Age and Mass Effect (and Anthem that one occasion), might not be aware of: “Baldur’s Gate. Neverwinter Nights. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.”
“What generations of BioWare created cooperatively is something to honor and reminisce about,” the statement goes on. “These games transcended because you engaged with them, discussed your choices, developed attachments to the characters, and crafted these worlds as your own.”
Bloomberg indicates that approximately 400 employees will be let go due to the new reductions. Internal communications from EA COO David Tinson and CSO Cam Weber reportedly suggest that the publisher intends to reduce more personnel and projects shortly.
BioWare had been experiencing a downturn for years, and Anthem, a mech suit live-service shooter, was just a portion of it. The studio’s most recent launch, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, underperformed against EA’s expectations by “almost 50%” after a lengthy development saga marred by internal shifts and overhauls that notably saw BioWare, primarily known for single-player experiences, briefly compelled into the live-service domain. Anthem, which was a monumental failure both financially and critically, also drained staff during its production.
In a related context, former BioWare head Mark Darrah attributes The Veilguard’s shortcoming to excessive demands imposed on the studio by EA.
