EA shutters BioWare studio after more than 30 years

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 21:57 · Archive

BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is shutting down after more than three decades.

BioWare, the studio behind role-playing games including Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, is closing after more than 30 years. The closure follows EA acquiring the studio in 2007.

EA is laying off around 400 staff across the company as a whole, with around 50 of those at BioWare. The company has also cancelled early development on the next Mass Effect project. EA executives said in a statement to staff: "Across our portfolio, we're making deliberate choices to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth."

BioWare said in its own statement on social media that "There is nothing easy about writing those words. Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition." The studio was founded in Edmonton, Alberta in 1995.

The closure follows EA becoming a private company last year in a $55 billion deal led by Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Affinity Partners. Other major gaming companies have made significant staff cuts this year, including Xbox's 3,200 cuts and Epic Games laying off over 1,000 staff.

How it is being reported

• RIP BioWare: EA shuts down storied RPG studio after over three decadesNext Mass Effect project canceled as parent company lays off 400.Ars Technica · 21 Oct, 20:12
• EA is shutting down BioWareBioWare, the legendary studio behind RPGs like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic, is shutting down, the company confirmed in a statement. Alongside the closure, EA has also chosen not to continue development on the next Mass Effect game that was in the works, according to an announcement sent […]The Verge · 21 Oct, 18:19

In this story: BioWare · Electronic Arts · Silver Lake · Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund · Affinity Partners · Edmonton

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