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RIP BioWare: EA shuts down storied RPG studio after over three decades
Ars Technica • • general
Key Points:
- BioWare, the renowned studio behind franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, announced its closure and the end of early development on the next Mass Effect project after over 30 years in the industry.
- The closure follows a Bloomberg report of 400 job cuts at Electronic Arts (EA), BioWare's parent company, including 50 layoffs at BioWare, as EA shifts focus to areas with greater growth potential.
- Founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, BioWare has faced challenges in recent years, including key personnel departures and mixed receptions for titles like Mass Effect Andromeda, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and Anthem.
- EA's recent privatization by Silver Lake and other investors has led to strategic changes emphasizing live services, annual sports franchises, and microtransactions, contributing to studio closures and layoffs.
- BioWare thanked its community in its farewell message, highlighting the lasting impact of its games and the players who engaged with its stories and characters.
