EA closes legendary RPG studio BioWare following its $55 billion buyout
In a letter to staff on Wednesday, EA announced the closure of BioWare's Edmonton studio, its last, as part of broader cost-cutting layoffs. The storied RPG developer had begun early development on the next Mass Effect, informally known as Mass Effect 5, which has now been canceled. Read Entire Article
Electronic Arts (EA) announced on Wednesday the closure of its legendary RPG studio BioWare, as part of its ongoing cost-cutting measures following the acquisition of the company for $55 billion by a Saudi-led consortium. BioWare, which originated in Edmonton, Canada in 1995, played a pivotal role in defining the RPG genre with iconic titles such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Jade Empire.
Despite these early successes, the studio had not released a hit game in 12 years and had already faced significant layoffs in the past. EA's closure of BioWare's Edmonton studio marks the end of an era, as the company had been developing the next installment in the Mass Effect franchise, officially known as Mass Effect 5, which is now canceled.
This marks one of the most feared outcomes of EA's acquisition, which has saddled the company with $20 billion in debt. EA's strategic shift towards first-person shooters and sports titles, along with its support for Battlefield 6, Apex Legends, and a potential new Star Wars project, underscores the closure of BioWare's RPG division.
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