EA Closes BioWare Following Saudi PIF Acquisition

October 21, 2026 - 19:00

Electronic Arts has shut down BioWare, the studio behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, according to reports. The closure marks the end of one of the most storied role-playing game developers in the industry and comes shortly after EA's sale to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

BioWare was founded in 1995 and built a reputation for narrative-driven RPGs. The studio released Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age over nearly three decades. Its early work is widely credited with shaping modern Western RPG design, particularly around player choice and companion relationships.

The studio's fortunes shifted in recent years. Mass Effect: Andromeda drew a mixed reception in 2017, and Anthem, a live-service experiment, failed to find an audience after its 2019 launch. Dragon Age: The Veilguard arrived in 2024 to uneven reviews and reportedly fell short of sales expectations. Staff cuts had already reduced the team before the final decision.

The timing has drawn attention. EA's acquisition by the Saudi PIF closed earlier this year, and the new ownership has been reviewing the company's portfolio. BioWare's closure suggests the fund is prioritizing profitable live-service titles over single-player RPG development, a shift that worries fans of the studio's classic output.

Former BioWare employees have begun posting about the shutdown on social media, describing a somber mood and uncertainty about severance terms. It remains unclear whether EA will retain the Mass Effect and Dragon Age intellectual property or license it to other developers. Neither EA nor the Saudi PIF has issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming the studio's closure.