Electronic Arts’ decision to end early development on the next Mass Effect game and close BioWare has led Guardian writer Lucy James to argue that the loss matters to role-playing games beyond the franchise itself.
EA announced the decisions Oct. 21, saying it had chosen not to continue the project and would close BioWare’s Edmonton studio and workspace. The company said it would support affected employees as they explore other roles within EA. It tied its portfolio review to intensifying competition for players and said it would focus teams and investment on areas it sees as offering opportunities for players and long-term growth.
BioWare said the closure ends more than three decades of work. In a January 2025 update, the studio said a core team was working on the next Mass Effect game after Dragon Age: The Veilguard. EconoTimes previously covered EA’s decision to close BioWare and end early work on the game.
In an Oct. 23 essay in The Guardian, James framed the shutdown as a loss for role-playing games as well as for Mass Effect fans. She has worked in the video game industry for 15 years and has been a BioWare fan for almost 20.
James points to the trilogy’s use of player decisions: choices made in an earlier game could carry forward into later installments, changing storylines and what happened to characters. That connection across games is central to her case for why the studio’s closure has significance beyond one project.
EA said it plans to discuss its direction and upcoming work at a global town hall in November. The company has not announced a date.
