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EA Reportedly Shut Down BioWare to Focus on New Star Wars Game

EA reportedly prioritized Star Wars over Mass Effect.

BioWare logo on a black background with blue and white diagonal lines.
BioWare logo on a black background with blue and white diagonal lines.
alexa author
By Alexandria LopezStaff Writer

  • Primary Subject: BioWare / Electronic Arts (EA)
  • Key Update: A Bloomberg report revealed that EA shut down BioWare and canceled the upcoming Mass Effect game to manage $18 billion in debt and shift funds toward a new Star Wars title with Lucasfilm.
  • Status: Reported
  • Last Verified: October 30, 2026
  • Quick Answer: EA closed BioWare and canceled Mass Effect to allocate development resources toward a lower-risk Star Wars title amid significant debt and recent financial losses.

Earlier this month, gamers were shocked when BioWare announced it was shutting down.

EA laid off over 400 people, with 50 jobs affected at BioWare, forcing the studio to shut down. This had people heartbroken, as this also meant the new Mass Effect would no longer be in development. At the time, people could only speculate as to why the studio closed.

Now, however, it seems a reason has been revealed. Keep on reading to learn more.

Report Reveals EA Shut Down BioWare For New Star Wars Game

In a report by Bloomberg, it was revealed that EA shut down BioWare to capitalize on an opportunity to develop a third Star Wars Battlefront game with Walt Disney Co.’s Lucasfilm.

A futuristic character holding a glowing weapon confronts robotic enemies in a dark, sci-fi landscape.
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Credit: Electronic Arts

As the offer reportedly came, EA was facing financial pressures thanks to a buyout that left it with $18 billion in debt. The company reviewed its portfolio and discovered they had two sci-fi games on the cards that would both cost hundreds of millions of dollars - the next Star Wars game and the cancelled Mass Effect title.

They ultimately decided to invest in the Star Wars game, cancelling the Mass Effect title and shutting down BioWare as a whole. EA reportedly saw it as less risky than the new Mass Effect. This is likely because 2017's Mass Effect: Andromeda received less-than-stellar reviews, and 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare's latest game, missed sales expectations by 50%.

A group of armed characters in a sci-fi environment engages in a shootout, with laser beams and explosions lighting up the dark space.
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Credit: Electronic Arts

In a statement to Bloomberg, a spokesperson for EA said they made the decision to shut down BioWare "following months of planning, review, and analysis, including careful consideration of evolving business conditions, industry dynamics, and our long-term priorities." They added, “While this is never easy, we ultimately have to make tough decisions to focus our teams on the biggest opportunities for our future, including investing in new projects across our portfolio."

While it seems we won't get the new Mass Effect game, the Mass Effect series is still in development at Amazon.

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