EA ends Mass Effect work as BioWare shuts down

After more than 30 years, BioWare is closing, and EA's choice to back Star Wars Battlefront 3 over Mass Effect 5 would have been central to the shutdown. The detail that stings is that the Star Wars shooter that would have won that contest has not entered development yet.

The closure also takes BioWare's Edmonton workspace with it. For Mass Effect players, the hard part needs no hedging: BioWare confirmed that early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending. EA says a small team at the studio had been doing that early work, and the publisher decided not to take it any further.

The report also suggests that BioWare's uneven run of releases since Mass Effect: Andromeda counted against it. That would mean the series' next entry paid for the studio's recent misses before anyone outside the team got to see it.

What EA is putting its weight behind

EA's own explanation is about focus. In a note to staff, the publisher says it will concentrate on fewer simultaneous large-scale action-adventure projects, while work continues on Marvel's Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game.

EA also plans to bring Respawn and DICE together to collaborate on a future project. It has not named that project, so anyone tying it to Battlefront 3 is reading between the lines, not quoting EA.

For the people at BioWare, EA says it will help those affected explore other opportunities inside the company and treat them with care and respect.

EA is focusing on fewer simultaneous, large-scale action-adventure projects while continuing work on Marvel's Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game. BioWare is closing, and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending. As a player, I find that a disappointing set of priorities.