Report: EA closed BioWare and dropped new Mass Effect to pursue Star Wars Battlefront 3
What we know
Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier reports that EA closed BioWare after deciding it could not bring both a new Mass Effect and a new Star Wars: Battlefront game to market, and chose Battlefront. PSQ EG
Coverage describes the reasoning as EA concluding that two high-budget sci-fi action games was too many. VGC
Shacknews notes that EA is reportedly $18 billion in debt following its Saudi Arabian buyout, and that it chose Battlefront when weighing the millions each project would need. SN
A separate detail from the report suggests Mass Effect: Universe was still years from launching after development paused to shift focus to The Veilguard. TG
Why it matters
BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk, in a rare interview, called the studio's closure sad but said his greater concern is for the people put out of work. PCG
Key facts
- SourceBloomberg, reported by Jason Schreier
- StatusReported claim
Coverage · 12 sources
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VGC EA chose to shut down BioWare so it could make Star Wars Battlefront 3 instead, it’s claimed Video Games Chronicle · Chris Scullion · 5h agoRead
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PCG 'None of these people have ever made a game,' BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk says of game industry executives: 'They just don't know how it works' PC Gamer · 22h agoRead
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EG EA reportedly closed BioWare because it was forced to choose between Mass Effect 5 and Star Wars Battlefront 3 Eurogamer · Robert Purchese · 5h agoRead
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PSQ New Mass Effect Cancelled So EA Can Focus on Star Wars Battlefront 3 Push Square · 5h agoRead
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PCG EA reportedly canned BioWare and Mass Effect 5 to make a new Star Wars: Battlefront instead PC Gamer · 3h agoRead
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IG New Mass Effect Was Canceled in Favor of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 Insider Gaming · Sam Sepiol · 6h agoRead
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GD Report: EA shut down BioWare in favor of Star Wars: Battlefront sequel after previously decrying licensed games Game Developer · Imran Khan · 5h agoRead
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GR Why did EA close BioWare? Report says it put Mass Effect 5 and Star Wars Battlefront 3 on a scale GamesRadar+ · 5h agoRead
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DT Star Wars Battlefront 3 was reportedly the final nail in the coffin for BioWare and Mass Effect Destructoid · Scott Duwe · 5h agoRead
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SN EA reportedly closed BioWare in part over a new Star Wars: Battlefront Shacknews · 3h agoRead
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TG Star Wars Battlefront 3 Is Why EA Shut Down BioWare TheGamer · George Foster · 6h agoRead
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TG Mass Effect Universe Still "Years Away" From Finishing, Bloomberg Reports TheGamer · James Lucas · 5h agoRead
Timeline
Added more outlet coverage and details on Mass Effect: Universe timing and EA debt.
Story created from PC Gamer, TheGamer, Insider Gaming, Video Games Chronicle, Eurogamer, Game Developer, GamesRadar+, Destructoid, Push Square and Shacknews.