EA has shut down BioWare and ended development on the next Mass Effect game, though Prime Video's live-action series is reportedly still in development. Read on to learn more about the studio closure, the TV series update, and other details.
EA Shuts Down BioWare and Cancels the Next Mass Effect, But TV Series Remains in Development
BioWare Announces Its Closure After More Than 30 Years
BioWare announced its closure on X (Twitter) on October 21, ending the studio behind Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem. The statement confirmed that early development on the next Mass Effect project is also ending, with the studio focusing on supporting its team through the transition. It does not address what will happen to the franchises themselves.
Amid the news, IGN reported, citing sources inside Prime Video, that the Mass Effect television series remains in development at Amazon MGM Studios. All of the creatives attached to the project are said to still be on board, including showrunner Doug Jung (Mindhunter), writer Daniel Casey (Fast and Furious 9), executive producer Karim Zreik, and former Marvel Studios executive Ari Arad.
Sparked Discussions on Factors Surrounding the Franchise
The game series has been in development at Prime Video since 2024 and is set after the events of the original game trilogy. The production team had previously eyed a Q4 2026 production start, though the show still has no release date. Prime Video is also reportedly hoping to replicate the success of its Fallout adaptation, while Casey denied reports in April that the studio had asked for rewrites to make the show more appealing to non-gaming audiences.
BioWare's closure, however, also reignited discussions around EA's history with the studios it has acquired. Fans pointed to a Reddit thread listing past closures such as Bullfrog, Westwood, Origin, and Pandemic, with some commenters criticizing publisher pressure and trend-chasing as contributing factors. Others are instead looking forward to sci-fi RPGs like Exodus, which one commenter noted is being made by Archetype Entertainment, a studio run by some of BioWare's former Mass Effect developers.
Sources:
BioWare Official Closure Statement on X
Mass Effect TV Series Remains Active at Prime Video Despite BioWare Closure
With the BioWare Shutdown, Here's a Reminder of EA's History of Acquisitions
