{
  "id": 15989134,
  "title": "Video game developer BioWare shuts down, next 'Mass Effect' canceled amid broader layoffs at EA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/video-game-developer-bioware-shuts-down-next-mass-effect-canceled-15989134",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T02:57:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261022/video-game-developer-bioware-shuts-down-next-mass-effect-canceled-amid-broader-layoffs-at-ea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Electronic Arts, the video game publisher, has announced the closure of the long-standing and influential game development studio BioWare. The studio, known for popular titles such as \"Battlefield\" and \"The Sims,\" is also canceling the upcoming \"Mass Effect\" game, which would have been the fifth installment since 2007.\n\nBioWare disclosed the news on social media, following a report by Bloomberg that also revealed the company is downsizing by 400 employees, including around 50 at BioWare. The Redwood Shores, California-based studio recently completed its $55 billion sale of assets to Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake Partners, and Affinity Partners, which is overseen by President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.\n\nRepresentatives from EA have not yet provided a comment on the layoffs. In a statement on social media, BioWare reflected on its contributions, saying, \"What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember. These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with characters, and made these worlds your own.\"",
  "summary": "Video game publisher Electronic Arts is shutting down the popular and influential game development studio BioWare after more than three decades. The upcoming “Mass Effect” game, the fifth since 2007, has been canceled. BioWare announced the closure on social media Wednesday following a report by Bloomberg that also said the company is laying off 400 people, including about 50 at BioWare. The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Video game developer BioWare shuts down, next ‘Mass Effect’ canceled amid broader layoffs at EA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/video-game-developer-bioware-shuts-down-next-mass-effect-canceled",
        "published": "2026-10-22T01:11:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Video game developer BioWare shuts down, next 'Mass Effect' canceled amid broader layoffs at EA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/video-game-developer-bioware-shuts-down-next-mass-effect-canceled-15985428",
        "published": "2026-10-22T02:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}