EA Trims Workforce and Shuts Down BioWare After Going Private

October 22, 2026 - 07:07

Electronic Arts is cutting roughly 400 jobs, about 3 percent of its staff, and shutting down the studio BioWare. The move comes after the company went private in August.

The layoffs affect teams across the organization, though the company did not specify which departments would see the deepest reductions. BioWare, known for role playing franchises such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age, will close entirely as part of the restructuring.

The decision marks a significant shift for EA, which has owned BioWare since 2007. Over the years the studio produced several acclaimed titles but also faced high profile setbacks, including the troubled launch of Anthem and the mixed reception of Mass Effect Andromeda. Its most recent release, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, arrived last year to uneven reviews and reportedly fell short of sales expectations.

Going private gave EA more room to make structural changes away from quarterly public reporting pressure. Executives framed the cuts as a way to focus resources on fewer, larger projects with stronger commercial potential.

Employees affected by the layoffs will receive severance and support services, according to the company. The closure of BioWare ends nearly three decades of operation for one of the industry's most recognizable studios.