Electronic Arts has confirmed it is closing BioWare, the role-playing game studio it has owned for decades, as part of a broader cost-cutting effort that will eliminate approximately 400 positions across the company, according to Ars Technica and reporting aggregated by news outlets including Bloomberg and AP News.
The closure ends a studio history of over 30 years. BioWare was responsible for a string of influential RPGs that shaped the genre over multiple console and PC generations.
As part of the shutdown, EA has also canceled the next entry in the Mass Effect franchise, which had been in development at the studio, according to Ars Technica.
Details of the decision were outlined in an internal memo from EA leadership, which subsequently became public, according to Yahoo Finance.
EA has described the move as a measure to reduce costs. Bloomberg reported the layoffs and studio closure in the context of broader financial pressures facing the company.
End of an Era for the RPG Genre
BioWare built its reputation through games including the Mass Effect series and other acclaimed titles over its more than 30-year lifespan. Its closure marks one of the more significant studio shutdowns in recent gaming industry history, given the studio's long track record and cultural footprint within role-playing games.
The cancellation of the next Mass Effect title means the franchise, which had already seen a lengthy gap since its last mainline entry, will not receive a follow-up under EA's current plans.
EA joins a number of major publishers that have reduced headcount or shuttered internal studios in recent years amid shifting market conditions and rising development costs.
