Electronic Arts is closing BioWare and its Edmonton workspace, and it will not move forward with the next Mass Effect game. EA announced both on October 21 in a staff memo from Cam Weber and David Tinson, posted on EA's site.

What EA announced

EA says a small BioWare team had been working on early development for Mass Effect. The memo calls BioWare "a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre" and says the company does not take the decision lightly.

The Verge reports the studio is also the maker of Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and relays Bloomberg's figure of around 400 layoffs. EA's memo gives no job count. The same report adds that the changes follow EA going private in a $55 billion deal that closed in August.

What else changes in EA's lineup

The memo sets out portfolio choices beyond BioWare:

  • Action-adventure: Marvel's Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game continue. After those, EA will work on fewer large projects at the same time.
  • Shooters: Respawn and DICE will work together on a future project, alongside future Battlefield games. EA also plans new Apex multiplayer modes over the next few years.
  • EA SPORTS: two new projects, "Project Gridiron" (a social-first open-world American football game) and a Fight Night revival in pre-production.
  • The Sims: the team prioritizes "Project Evergreen" and pauses "Project Lotus."
  • skate.: a smaller, more focused studio.

EA says it will support affected employees in looking for other roles within EA. A Global Town Hall is set for November.

Why it matters

Only a small BioWare team was on Mass Effect, and the memo calls the work early development. The loss is the franchise's next chapter and the studio that made it. EA says it is saying no to some things it is passionate about to back bigger bets.

For players, EA's slate in the memo is Iron Man and Star Wars Jedi, plus Battlefield, Apex, FC, Project Gridiron and Fight Night. Mass Effect is not on it. Looking for other games this season? See our PlayStation Pulse headset story and our No Man's Sky iPhone and iPad story.

Our call

Don't expect a new Mass Effect from EA soon. EA names no replacement team and no other Mass Effect project in the memo.