EA Closes BioWare, Cancels Early-Stage Mass Effect Game
Electronic Arts is closing BioWare’s Edmonton studio and canceling an early-stage “Mass Effect” project as part of a broader restructuring that will cut about 400 jobs, or 3% of the publisher’s workforce, according to reports citing the company and a person familiar with its plans.
Roughly 50 BioWare employees are among those affected. EA said it would help workers seek other positions within the company. The closure ends the studio behind the “Mass Effect” and “Dragon Age” role-playing franchises, as well as “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.”
EA said it is narrowing its slate to focus on fewer large-scale action-adventure games. Development will continue on Motive’s “Marvel’s Iron Man” and Respawn Entertainment’s next “Star Wars Jedi” title, while the team behind the skateboarding game “skate.” will be reorganized into a smaller studio. EA retains ownership of the “Mass Effect” …