BioWare, the studio behind game franchises such as Dragon Age and Mass Effect, is being shut down as part of EA’s cost-cutting measures. It was over the summer that the videogame publisher Electronic Arts – EA as it’s better known – was in the midst of a $55bn buyout, in part funded by attaching debt ... EA confirms it’s shutting BioWare, as it swings axe to help pay off its buyout
BioWare, the studio behind game franchises such as Dragon Age and Mass Effect, is being shut down as part of EA’s cost-cutting measures.
It was over the summer that the videogame publisher Electronic Arts – EA as it’s better known – was in the midst of a $55bn buyout, in part funded by attaching debt to the EA asset book. Now, that debt has to be serviced, and 3% of the company’s work force is paying the price for it, in the latest round of job cuts.
Tragically, the BioWare studio, one of the best known in game, is to close down completely.
BioWare is the studio behind the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series of games, and it was in the midst of making the new Mass Effect, that is now understood to have been completely abandoned.
Its most recent release, Dragon’s Age: The Veilguard fell someway short of expectations, but still: BioWare had two decades of game making to its name, including the likes of Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights as well. But now it’s the latest storied name in gaming to fall.
“Across our portfolio, we’re making deliberate choices to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth”, wrote EA’s David Tinson, in a letter to staff explaining the round of cuts. Its investment in gaming will instead focus on sports and action adventure titles, the free-to-play Apex Legends held up as an example.
Which leaves a studio primarily focused on single player gaming, such as BioWare, without a chair when the metaphorical music stopped. Single player gaming is expensive, and that isn’t the business that a huge corporation seems to be want to be in.
EA had owned BioWare since 2007, and it wasn’t without a disappointment or two in that time. But also, it was a beacon in gaming, a chartermark for innovation of quality. The very best to all staff affected.
