Legendary video game studio BioWare closed after 31 years

BioWare, the celebrated studio behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age role-playing franchises, is closing its doors after 31 years.

The Canadian developer, founded in 1995, became one of the most respected names in gaming after its breakout hit Baldur's Gate in 1998. It went on to dominate the late 2000s with the twin successes of sci-fi epic Mass Effect — widely regarded as one of the most influential games of its era — and the fantasy saga Dragon Age.

But the studio's recent releases struggled. Its last two games failed to meet sales expectations, including Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the fourth entry in the fantasy series released in 2024 after a long and troubled development cycle that drew lukewarm reviews from long-time fans.

Parent company Electronic Arts confirmed the closure. In its own farewell statement, BioWare — which had been working on a new Mass Effect title — thanked players for their support. EA described the studio as "a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre."

The shutdown comes months after EA itself was sold for $55 billion to a Saudi Arabia-led group of investors, a deal that left the games giant carrying $20 billion in debt. In a message to staff, the company said it had taken a "hard look" at its business and would focus on fewer simultaneous large-scale action-adventure projects, while also cancelling a new Sims project and cutting jobs.

For millions of players, BioWare's closure marks the end of an era.