Source and leaked memo: EA plans to cut ~400 jobs, or ~3% of its total staff, and shut down BioWare; EA went private in August following a $55B leveraged buyout (Jason Schreier/Bloomberg)

The renowned RPG developer BioWare has ceased operations, with Electronic Arts announcing the shutdown of the iconic studio. The cancellation of the highly anticipated next Mass Effect game is the latest casualty of the studio's demise. Formed in 1995, BioWare pioneered the original Baldur's Gate games, and later the critically acclaimed Dragon Age and Mass Effect series.

The studio's statement on social media paid tribute to the generations of players who contributed to their success, emphasizing that the true magic of their creations was in the player's experiences, debates, and emotional connections to the characters and worlds. However, employees had growing concerns about the studio's future, with one insider noting that the writing was on the wall.

The acquisition of BioWare by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, alongside investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, did little to quell these anxieties. The cancellation of the next Mass Effect game was first hinted at in 2020, and by 2025, BioWare claimed to have a core team dedicated to the project following a series of layoffs.

EA's decision to lay off around 400 employees across the company reflects the far-reaching impact of this closure. In a memo to staff, EA's chief studios officer Cam Weber and COO David Tinson explained that the company's strategic shift to prioritize its biggest opportunities necessitated these difficult decisions.