Electronic Arts confirmed on Wednesday that it is closing its long‑standing Canadian studio BioWare, resulting in the elimination of roughly 400 positions – about 3% of the company’s total workforce. The shutdown includes the loss of 50 jobs directly from BioWare, according to an internal memo cited by Bloomberg and a follow‑up post from BioWare on the social platform X.
BioWare’s final announcement
In its X statement, BioWare acknowledged the end of “more than three decades of shared adventures,” noting that early development on the next Mass Effect project has also been halted. The studio expressed gratitude for its staff, saying, “Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition.”
Background on BioWare and EA’s recent strategy
Founded in 1995 by Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk and Augustine Yip, BioWare earned a reputation for narrative‑driven franchises such as Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Baldur’s Gate. EA acquired BioWare and Pandemic Studios in 2007 for $775 million. Over the past several years, the studio’s releases have struggled to meet EA’s expectations; the multiplayer shooter Anthem (2019) was discontinued in 2025, and the 2024 title Dragon Age: Veilguard performed below expectations, leaving fewer than 100 BioWare employees by 2025.
EA itself underwent a $55 billion private‑equity buyout in August, led by the Saudi Arabian government’s investment fund, which left the company with $18 billion of debt. Earlier this year, EA told investors it would slash research and development spending to save up to $700 million, a move that has accelerated studio closures and project cancellations.
Recent layoffs and project cancellations
In addition to the BioWare closure, EA announced the cancellation of a The Sims title known as Project Lotus, redirecting resources to a new effort called Project Evergreen. The company also indicated a sharpened focus on its sports franchises, Apex Legends, and licensed properties such as Iron Man and the upcoming Star Wars Jedi game.
Bloomberg reported that EA plans to continue pursuing the Battlefield franchise, with Respawn and DICE reportedly developing a new project likely to become another entry in the Star Wars: Battlefront series.
The BioWare shutdown follows a series of workforce reductions at EA. In 2023, the publisher executed a 6% layoff affecting 775 employees, cancelled Apex Legends Mobile and Battlefield Mobile, and shuttered developer Industrial Toys. That year also saw the layoff of 50 BioWare staff, who later sued for improved severance; the lawsuit’s outcome remains undisclosed.
February 2024 brought a further 5% reduction—about 670 workers—and the cancellation of an early‑stage Star Wars game. In 2025, EA eliminated several hundred more positions, cancelled the Black Panther project from Cliffhanger Games, and ultimately closed BioWare. Despite these cuts, EA reported an increase of roughly 800 employees in March 2025 compared with the previous year, bringing its total headcount to around 14,000.
The pattern of large‑scale layoffs is not unique to EA. The broader video‑game industry has seen similar moves, with Microsoft announcing 1,600 job cuts and planning additional reductions, while Sony Interactive Entertainment, FuturLab (developer of PowerWash Simulator), Ubisoft and Netflix’s Night School Games have all reported staff reductions or studio closures this year.
EA’s decision to close BioWare marks the end of a studio that once helped define modern role‑playing games. The move underscores the publisher’s shift toward higher‑margin sports titles and established licensed IPs as it seeks to stabilize finances after a costly buyout and a series of underperforming releases.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
