EA Shuts Down BioWare Studio
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The closure of the storied Edmonton-based developer ends production on a new Mass Effect title and signals broader instability in the Canadian gaming sector.
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) has announced the closure of BioWare, the Edmonton-based studio responsible for the *Mass Effect*, *Dragon Age*, and *Baldur’s Gate* series, according to reporting from BetaKit. The studio, which operated for over three decades since its founding in 1995, confirmed the shutdown via social media on Wednesday, noting that development on its upcoming *Mass Effect* game will cease.
The closure is part of a larger restructuring by EA, which recently went private following a $55-billion USD leveraged buyout in August. As reported by Bloomberg News, EA is cutting approximately 400 jobs—roughly three percent of its total workforce—including about 50 BioWare employees.
BetaKit notes that BioWare's decline mirrors the performance of its core franchises, with recent entries in *Mass Effect* and *Dragon Age* underperforming. The studio's size has dwindled significantly from a peak of over 400 employees to approximately 100 prior to the closure.
The move reflects a volatile period for the Canadian gaming industry. BetaKit highlights that Ubisoft also closed its Halifax and Winnipeg offices earlier this year, resulting in more than 100 layoffs. The decision by EA to shutter a studio once considered a crown jewel of the industry suggests a growing financial disruption for developers in Canada.