Electronic Arts announced on Wednesday that it will shut down the BioWare studio and eliminate about 400 positions across the company. The decision follows a period of financial strain after the private‑equity owners loaded EA with roughly $20 billion of debt. BioWare, acquired by EA in 2007 and known for the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, has faced disappointing sales with recent titles such as Anthem and the cancelled Dragon Age: The Veilguard. A small team had been working on a new Mass Effect game, but EA decided to cancel the project and close the Edmonton, Alberta office entirely.
A memo from EA co‑presidents Cam Weber and David Tinson read, “BioWare is a legendary studio that helped define the role‑playing genre, and we do not take this decision lightly.” The company said it will assist affected employees in exploring other opportunities within EA.
The layoffs represent roughly three percent of EA’s total workforce, according to Variety. Among the studios impacted is Full Circle, the developer behind the Skate series. Although the game has performed well in early access since September of last year, EA plans to streamline the studio to a smaller, more focused team that can follow a clear roadmap for the community and support a healthier, more sustainable business.
At Maxis, the team behind The Sims, EA is pausing work on “Project Lotus” to redirect resources toward another initiative called “Project Evergreen.” The company also outlined upcoming plans for its other divisions. Respawn and Dice are collaborating on a new shooter that Variety’s sources identify as Star Wars: Battlefront 3, keeping the franchise inside EA after rumors suggested outside developers might be considered. Dice developed the previous two Battlefront games.
EA said it will concentrate on fewer, large‑scale projects in the action‑adventure space after the upcoming Marvel’s Iron Man title and the next Star Wars Jedi game. In the sports segment, EA Sports will revive the Fight Night series, while its American football team is working on a brand‑new, social‑first open‑world experience. Further details on these projects are expected in the coming months.