It is always a sad day when a game development studio shuts down. In 2026, we have seen numerous studios either shut down or consolidated into other studios. On top of this, we have seen thousands of layoffs, which have affected many of those in the gaming industry. This doesn’t take into account the numerous layoffs that happen each year in the gaming industry. This time, however, the layoffs have come for a studio that is more than 30 years old, as BioWare has officially announced that it will be shutting its doors, affecting over 100 employees.
BioWare Announces Studio Closure
BioWare has been around since 1995 and is a studio that has released games that have affected the gaming industry and the lives of many gamers around the world. Some of the studio’s most notable game series include Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur’s Gate, and Anthem.
BioWare announced the studio closure with a heartfelt message to its fans that reads, “For more than 30 years, BioWare has been more than a studio. It has been a home for storytellers, developers, and the players who brought our worlds to life. Now, after more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect Project is ending. There is nothing Easy about writing those words. Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition.”
BioWare saw layoffs previously, as the studio was cut from around 400 employees down to around 100. The studio closure is also part of a restructuring at EA that has affected around 400 staffers.
Needless to say, many have felt the sting of these words as they echoed across the internet, and many have shared their thoughts on the closure. BioWare will be remembered for the brilliant stories it shared and the beautiful worlds it created. Mass Effect and Dragon Age are two game series that many will remember fondly and never forget.
