Electronic Arts has confirmed the closure of BioWare, the legendary RPG developer behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, ending more than three decades of game development.
The announcement came on October 21, 2026, as part of a wider restructuring at EA that will reportedly eliminate approximately 400 jobs across the company, including around 50 positions at BioWare.
EA also confirmed that development of the next Mass Effect game has been cancelled, bringing an end to the studio’s last announced project.
BioWare Confirms Its Closure After More Than 30 Years
In an official statement published on its website, BioWare confirmed that the studio is closing and work on the next Mass Effect project has ended.
“Now, after more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending,” the studio said.
BioWare also acknowledged the employees responsible for creating its games and thanked the players who supported the studio throughout its history.
The closure marks the end of one of gaming’s most influential RPG developers, whose work helped shape the genre through player-driven narratives, memorable companions, and meaningful choices.
Founded in 1995, BioWare built its reputation with titles including Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic before establishing its own major franchises with Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Its most recent release was Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024.
The End of an Era for RPG Fans
BioWare’s closure brings an end to a studio whose games left a lasting mark on the RPG genre.
From the original Baldur’s Gate to the Mass Effect trilogy and Dragon Age series, BioWare became known for building expansive fictional worlds where player decisions influenced relationships, characters, and story outcomes.
Although the studio faced difficulties in recent years, including the troubled launch of Anthem and the commercial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, its influence on narrative-driven RPGs remains significant.
In its farewell message, BioWare reflected on the community that grew around its games.
The studio thanked fans for playing its games, debating their choices, and making its fictional worlds their own.
With BioWare closing and the next Mass Effect cancelled, one of gaming’s longest-running RPG studios is coming to an end, leaving behind a catalog of games that helped define generations of role-playing adventures.
