Publisher Electronic Arts closes developer BioWare after 30 years

Publisher Electronic Arts is closing developer BioWare after 30 years and ending early work on the next Mass Effect game. GamesIndustry.biz, ComicsBeat, Game Developer and DSOGaming all reported that the studio announced the closure in a social media statement. Game Developer noted that 50 remaining BioWare employees are affected by the shutdown. [1][2][3][4]

Outlets differ on the title of the canceled game, with ComicsBeat referring to it as Mass Effect 5, while DSOGaming identified the project as Mass Effect 4. Game Developer reported that parent company Electronic Arts is laying off 400 total employees across the company, citing a report by Bloomberg News. [2][3][4]

BioWare was founded in 1995 in Edmonton, Canada, by medical school graduates Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk and Augustine Yip. Electronic Arts acquired the developer in 2007. Over three decades, the studio created series including Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect and Anthem. [1][3][9][10]

As FTMQ Gaming reported earlier, Amazon MGM Studios is continuing development on a live-action Mass Effect television series despite the game studio closure and project cancellation. [11]