EA To Close BioWare; Cancels Next Mass Effect
For those who were worried about the future of BioWare following the critical reception to Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it looks like the worst has come to pass. In the name of cutting costs, Electronic Arts (EA) will not only be shutting down the studio, but also cutting about 400 jobs, which amounts to around […] The post EA To Close BioWare; Cancels Next Mass Effect appeared first on Lowyat.NET .
Electronic Arts (EA) has announced plans to close the BioWare studio and cancel the next Mass Effect game, as part of a cost-cutting initiative. This decision comes after the critical reception to BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The move will result in the loss of around 400 jobs, which account for approximately 3% of the company's total workforce.
EA's CEO, David Tinson, along with Chief Studios Officer Cam Weber, stated that the company is prioritizing investments in sports games, Apex Legends, and action-adventure projects, including upcoming Star Wars and Marvel's Iron Man titles. BioWare's surviving studios, Respawn Entertainment and DICE, will collaborate on a new project, likely another Star Wars: Battlefront game.
The company will also continue to support The Sims franchise, code-named Project Lotus, and the skateboarding game Skate, though the teams behind these projects will be downsized. The decision marks the end of BioWare's struggles, following the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda and the cancelled Anthem. The company's financial troubles stem from a US$55 billion leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, leaving EA with US$18 billion in debt.
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