If you’ve been waiting for the next Mass Effect game, there’s bad news. BioWare, the studio behind the sci-fi RPG series and Dragon Age, is closing after more than 30 years, and development on its next Mass Effect project is ending.
In a farewell statement published on October 21, BioWare confirmed the closure, marking a major change for a studio that helped shape story-driven role-playing games. Founded in 1995, it built its reputation on games such as Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age and Mass Effect.
The decision is also part of a wider restructuring at Electronic Arts (EA), BioWare’s parent company. According to the Los Angeles Times, EA is cutting around 400 jobs across its workforce, including roughly 50 at BioWare.
Emmanuel Umahi
Why is EA closing BioWare?
EA has said it wants to focus its teams and spending on projects with stronger growth potential. In an explanation reported by journalist Stephen Totilo in Game File, the company described the changes as “deliberate choices to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth.”
That approach comes as EA reassesses its projects and development costs. The company is continuing work on titles such as the next Star Wars Jedi game and Marvel’s Iron Man, while making cuts elsewhere.
BioWare’s recent performance also offers some context. Dragon Age: The Veilguard attracted around 1.5 million players in its first two months, nearly 50% below EA’s expectations, according to reporting on the company’s results. That figure counts players rather than confirmed purchases, so it shouldn't be treated as a direct sales total. Still, it suggests the game didn't reach the audience EA had hoped for.
EA acknowledged BioWare’s legacy in its response to the closure, describing it as “a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre.” The recognition makes the decision all the more striking: the publisher is closing a studio whose games helped establish the kind of story-led RPGs it once invested in.
Is Mass Effect 5 cancelled?
The next Mass Effect project will not move forward. BioWare confirmed that early development on the game is ending, although EA hasn't announced that the entire Mass Effect franchise is permanently over.
That distinction matters because the series extends beyond the cancelled game. Amazon’s planned Mass Effect television adaptation was reportedly still in development as of October 22, according to The Verge, citing IGN. The show is a separate project, and BioWare’s closure doesn't automatically mean it has been cancelled.
For now, however, players waiting for another entry in the game series have no confirmed release to look forward to.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is still going
Not everything associated with BioWare is ending. Star Wars: The Old Republic continues under Broadsword Online Games, which took over development and operation of the long-running online RPG in 2023.
The transfer happened before the closure, meaning the game was already operating separately from BioWare’s main studio. EA remains its publisher, and the change means BioWare shutting down doesn't automatically take The Old Republic with it.
That's pretty important for players who have spent years building characters and communities in the online game. Its future, though, will depend on the team responsible for it, rather than on BioWare’s closure alone.
What happens to Dragon Age?
Dragon Age's future is less clear. EA hasn't announced that the franchise is cancelled, but it has also not confirmed a new game or named another studio to take over the series.
The performance of The Veilguard adds uncertainty, particularly as EA looks to concentrate investment on projects it believes have stronger growth potential. Still, it would be premature to conclude that the franchise is finished simply because BioWare is closing.
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