EA Closes Bioware Following Recent Setbacks and Controversies

WHO:

NY Post - Electronic Arts (EA) shut down BioWare, the video-game studio behind the *Dragon Age* and *Mass Effect* franchises.

Fox News - BioWare was founded in 1995; co-founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka retired from the studio in 2012.

Fox News - BioWare’s director for *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*, Corinne Busche, described herself as “an openly queer, trans woman.”

Fox News - Former *Dragon Age* lead writer David Gaider said another installment seemed unlikely under EA.

Fox News - Republican congressional candidate and *Halo* composer Marty O’Donnell criticized BioWare’s direction and EA’s handling of the studio.

Kotaku - Zeschuk said he had already mourned BioWare when he left the Edmonton developer and expressed concern for colleagues losing their jobs.

WHAT:

NY Post - EA closed BioWare after 31 years; *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* sales missed EA’s expectations by nearly 50%.

Fox News - *The Veilguard* attracted approximately 1.5 million players during its launch quarter, nearly 50% below EA’s expectations.

Fox News - BioWare’s earlier games included the critically acclaimed *Dragon Age: Origins*; its releases also included the criticized *Mass Effect: Andromeda* and *Anthem*.

Fox News - BioWare said that “early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending.”

Kotaku - Zeschuk described EA’s private-equity acquisition as the “final nail in the coffin” for the studio, according to the article headline.

WHY:

Fox News - The closure followed disappointing releases and controversy over political and identity themes in BioWare games.

Fox News - *The Veilguard* drew criticism for transgender and nonbinary themes, including an option to add top-surgery scars and a scene involving a character misgendering a nonbinary character and performing an apology ritual.

Kotaku - Zeschuk said BioWare sought more funding for *The Old Republic* MMO, then in development at BioWare Austin; he said the studio was “in good shape” before the EA acquisition.

HOW:

Fox News - BioWare announced its closure in a company blog post; EA had previously reduced the studio’s staff, according to Bloomberg as cited by Fox News.

Kotaku - Zeschuk said BioWare had worked within EA’s “framework” and characterized the studio’s ability to release games as “a success.”

(UPDATED October 29, 2026 04:08 UTC)

EA has shut down BioWare, the studio behind the *Dragon Age* and *Mass Effect* franchises, after 31 years. Its latest *Dragon Age* game attracted about 1.5 million players in its launch quarter, nearly 50 percent below EA’s expectations, and BioWare had previously cut staff. Co-founder Greg Zeschuk said he was concerned for colleagues losing their jobs, while the studio said early development on the next *Mass Effect* project is ending.