EA shuts BioWare, cancels next Mass Effect

Electronic Arts (EA) is carrying out a restructuring that will reduce its global workforce by about 400 positions, representing roughly 3% of the company’s staff. The cuts are part of a broader plan to realign its development portfolio and studio operations. Details of the move were set out in an internal memo to employees, outlining changes to teams and projects across the organization.

The reduction in headcount consolidates development around what EA describes as its largest opportunities, while trimming roles in other areas. Within the total of about 400 job losses, one of the most significant impacts is being felt at long-running role-playing studio BioWare, which is being shut down entirely.

As part of the restructuring, EA is closing BioWare and its Edmonton studio workspace. The decision brings an end to the operations of the developer that had been responsible for major role-playing franchises. Roughly 50 roles at BioWare are included in the approximately 400 job cuts announced by EA.

The closure and job losses were first communicated internally before being acknowledged publicly. BioWare issued a statement on its social account confirming that the studio is shutting down and that it is affected by the broader EA workforce reduction.

A small BioWare team had been working on early development for the next Mass Effect project. In the same restructuring move that closes the studio, EA decided not to proceed with that game. Early development on the project has been canceled, and the work that had been underway at BioWare is ending.

EA linked the decision to cancel the next Mass Effect directly to the studio shutdown and consolidation of its Edmonton workspace. The internal memo described the move as part of refocusing resources, and BioWare’s public message confirmed that early development on the game will no longer continue.

The restructuring steps, including job cuts, studio closure, and project cancellation, were first outlined to staff through an internal memo. That communication explained that a small team at BioWare had been in the early stages of the next Mass Effect and that EA had chosen not to move forward with the project.

Following the internal notice, BioWare released a public statement on its social account confirming that the studio is closing and that the in-development Mass Effect project is ending. The message marked the external confirmation of both the studio’s fate and the halt to work on the next entry in the franchise.