Ea’s Next Star Wars Game May Come at Bioware’s Expense
WHO:
Game Informer - The acquisition of EA involved the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and Affinity Partners, a Miami-based investment firm founded and run by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump.
ComingSoon.net - Electronic Arts (EA), Lucasfilm, and BioWare are identified in reports about the development opportunity for a third Star Wars Battlefront game.
Eurogamer.net - Bloomberg cited “people familiar with the company’s strategy” in reporting that EA chose between a new Mass Effect game and a new Star Wars Battlefront game.
Eurogamer.net - An EA spokesperson said the company had “collectively reached this decision following months of planning, review, and analysis.”
Eurogamer.net - The article identifies Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars Battlefront as relevant franchises; it says EA’s executive ranks were reorganized to include more EA Sports personnel.
Collider - The report describes Star Wars: Battlefront 3 as “all-but-confirmed” and says it reportedly played a role in the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and BioWare’s closure.
WHAT:
Game Informer - EA reportedly shut down BioWare after its sales of *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* missed expectations by 50%, despite positive critical reception.
Game Informer - BioWare’s other cited setbacks included the poor reception of *Mass Effect: Andromeda* and the failure of *Anthem*.
Game Informer - Only 50 BioWare employees remained, all working on the next *Mass Effect*, when the studio closed.
Game Informer - A *Mass Effect* television series remained in development at Amazon.
ComingSoon.net - Reports linked EA’s shutdown of BioWare to an opportunity from Lucasfilm to develop a third Star Wars Battlefront game.
Eurogamer.net - Bloomberg reported that EA closed BioWare after choosing to invest in Star Wars Battlefront 3 rather than a new Mass Effect game; the choice was also linked to cancellation of Mass Effect 5.
Eurogamer.net - EA’s spokesperson said the company would focus teams on “the biggest opportunities for our future,” including new projects across its portfolio.
Eurogamer.net - EA executives reportedly lamented Dragon Age: Veilguard’s sales and said it might have performed better as a live-service game.
Eurogamer.net - A leaked internal video for a project called Mass Effect Universe showed what appeared to be a pre-rendered visualization. The project was described as set 600 years after the Reaper war, during a galactic cold war.
Eurogamer.net - The planned Mass Effect game was described as offering “Hitman-style freedom” in approaching levels, romance that “wasn’t being sanitised,” and connections between the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies.
Eurogamer.net - Star Wars Battlefront 2 was described as initially struggling partly because it had loot boxes, then improving after years of adjustments.
Eurogamer.net - The article says Battlefront 3 development had not begun, while substantial planning had reportedly been done for Mass Effect Universe.
WHEN:
Eurogamer.net - Star Wars Battlefront 2 was released in 2017.
WHY:
Game Informer - The article noted that Saudi Arabia criminalizes same-sex activity, including marriage, and said BioWare’s LGBTQIA+-positive games were made at a publisher partially owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund. It reported no official statement linking BioWare’s closure to its progressive views.
Eurogamer.net - Bloomberg reported EA could not afford to make both sci-fi projects, each expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. EA reportedly had $18bn in debt following a leveraged buyout.
Eurogamer.net - EA executives reportedly viewed Battlefront 3 as “a less risky, more predictable bet than a new Mass Effect.”
Eurogamer.net - The report also cited BioWare’s recent track record and changes in EA’s executive ranks as contributing factors.
HOW:
Game Informer - Reports said BioWare removed diversity from demos to avoid negative feedback from EA.
Eurogamer.net - EA’s spokesperson said the decision followed months of planning, review, and analysis, including consideration of business conditions, industry dynamics, and long-term priorities.
(UPDATED October 31, 2026 01:04 UTC)
EA shut BioWare and reportedly chose Star Wars Battlefront 3 over a new Mass Effect. The decision followed months of review, with executives citing business conditions and shifting priorities. Reports linked the move to weak Dragon Age sales and EA’s choice between costly projects.
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(UPDATED October 30, 2026 21:03 UTC)
EA reportedly chose Star Wars Battlefront 3 over a new Mass Effect game, closing BioWare. The company said it couldn’t afford both costly projects and favored Battlefront’s predictable prospects. Battlefront 3 development reportedly hasn’t begun, while substantial planning had gone into Mass Effect Universe.