Bloomberg reports and developer context
According to a Bloomberg report by journalist Jason Schreier, Electronic Arts (EA) is reportedly planning major changes at BioWare, the Edmonton-based studio best known for the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises.
Schreier's reporting states that EA intends to close BioWare, cut roughly 400 positions, and cancel the next Mass Effect project.
These claims are presented as reporting and attributed to Bloomberg; readers should await official confirmation from EA.
Paraphrased reporting
Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported that EA is preparing to shut down BioWare, reduce staff by approximately 400 jobs, and halt development of the upcoming Mass Effect entry.
Schreier framed these as company-level decisions that would affect both the studio's future and individual employees.
Verified background on BioWare and its franchises
BioWare was founded in 1995 and became part of Electronic Arts in 2007 when EA acquired the studio.
Over three decades, BioWare established itself as a leading developer of narrative-driven role-playing games.
Key releases include the original Mass Effect (2007), Mass Effect 2 (2010), Mass Effect 3 (2012), and the Mass Effect Legendary Edition remaster (released May 14, 2021).
On the Dragon Age side, Dragon Age: Origins launched in 2009 and Dragon Age: Inquisition released in November 2014.
These franchises have been flagship franchises for BioWare and EA across PC, PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
Platform notes and industry context
Historically, BioWare's primary platforms have been PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
While Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo eShop host many RPGs and ports from a variety of developers, BioWare's mainline titles have not been primarily published for Switch hardware.
News of a major studio closure or mass layoffs would be significant for the broader industry, affecting platform partners, ongoing projects and future release pipelines.
What to watch next
At the time of the Bloomberg report, those details were attributed to Schreier's reporting.
Good journalistic practice is to look for an official statement from EA or BioWare for confirmation, and to monitor follow-up coverage for clarifications about affected teams, project status and timelines.
The reported changes, if confirmed, would mark a major shift for a studio founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, with a long history of narrative RPG development.
According to a Bloomberg report by journalist Jason Schreier, Electronic Arts (EA) is reportedly planning major changes at BioWare, the Edmonton-based studio best known for the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises.
Schreier's reporting states that EA intends to close BioWare, cut roughly 400 positions, and cancel the next Mass Effect project.
These claims are presented as reporting and attributed to Bloomberg; readers should await official confirmation from EA.
Paraphrased reporting
Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported that EA is preparing to shut down BioWare, reduce staff by approximately 400 jobs, and halt development of the upcoming Mass Effect entry.
Schreier framed these as company-level decisions that would affect both the studio's future and individual employees.
Verified background on BioWare and its franchises
BioWare was founded in 1995 and became part of Electronic Arts in 2007 when EA acquired the studio.
Over three decades, BioWare established itself as a leading developer of narrative-driven role-playing games.
Key releases include the original Mass Effect (2007), Mass Effect 2 (2010), Mass Effect 3 (2012), and the Mass Effect Legendary Edition remaster (released May 14, 2021).
On the Dragon Age side, Dragon Age: Origins launched in 2009 and Dragon Age: Inquisition released in November 2014.
These franchises have been flagship franchises for BioWare and EA across PC, PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
Platform notes and industry context
Historically, BioWare's primary platforms have been PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
While Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo eShop host many RPGs and ports from a variety of developers, BioWare's mainline titles have not been primarily published for Switch hardware.
News of a major studio closure or mass layoffs would be significant for the broader industry, affecting platform partners, ongoing projects and future release pipelines.
What to watch next
At the time of the Bloomberg report, those details were attributed to Schreier's reporting.
Good journalistic practice is to look for an official statement from EA or BioWare for confirmation, and to monitor follow-up coverage for clarifications about affected teams, project status and timelines.
The reported changes, if confirmed, would mark a major shift for a studio founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, with a long history of narrative RPG development.
