BioWare Is Closing and the Next Mass Effect Is Cancelled: What We Know

BioWare closing is confirmed. In a statement posted on X on October 21, 2026, the studio behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Baldur's Gate said that "after more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending."

It's one of the biggest studio closures in gaming history. BioWare has been part of Electronic Arts since 2007, and the decision comes two months after EA was taken private.

BioWare closing: the key facts

What did BioWare say?

BioWare's statement looks back on more than 30 years as "a home for storytellers, developers, and the players who brought our worlds to life", and lists its biggest games: Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect and Anthem.

"There is nothing easy about writing those words," the studio wrote. "Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition." It ends: "From all of us at BioWare, thank you for being the most meaningful part of our story."

The post had been viewed more than 34 million times by October 26.

Is the next Mass Effect cancelled?

Yes. BioWare's own statement says "early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending". The game had been teased since 2020 and was BioWare's main project after Dragon Age: The Veilguard. No release date or platforms had ever been announced.

BioWare didn't say whether the Mass Effect series itself will continue elsewhere at EA. EA still owns the Mass Effect and Dragon Age brands.

Why is EA closing BioWare?

BioWare's statement doesn't give a reason. According to reports from Bloomberg and GameSpot, the news came in an internal letter from EA's chief operating officer David Tinson and chief studios officer Cam Weber, who said EA had taken a "hard look" at its business. The same reports say the cuts affect around 400 people across EA, about 3% of its workforce, including roughly 50 at BioWare, and that a planned Sims game codenamed Project Lotus was also cancelled. EA hasn't published the letter, so treat those details as reported rather than confirmed.

The closure follows EA's move to private ownership. EA agreed a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2025, and the deal completed two months before the closure.

What does BioWare closing mean for Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

There's no word of them being removed from sale. Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard are still on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox stores as of October 26. BioWare's X profile still points players to @EAHelp for game support.

BioWare's history in brief

• 1995: BioWare is founded in Edmonton, Canada.
• 1998–2003: Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic define the western RPG.
• 2007: EA buys BioWare. Mass Effect launches the same year.
• 2009–2014: Dragon Age: Origins, Mass Effect 2 and 3, and Dragon Age: Inquisition.
• 2017–2019: Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem.
• 2021: Mass Effect Legendary Edition remasters the original trilogy.
• 2024: Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare's last game.
• 2026: BioWare announces it is closing.

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