EA's choice of Star Wars over Mass Effect 5 led to BioWare's demise, report says
According to a Bloomberg report, EA's decision to prioritize Star Wars Battlefront 3 over Mass Effect 5 was the primary factor in the shutdown of BioWare.
A postmortem on BioWare reveals that the studio's closure was largely driven by EA's decision to back Star Wars Battlefront 3 instead of Mass Effect 5. The publisher reportedly prioritized the predictable revenue of a major licensed shooter over the development of a high-stakes RPG franchise.
According to Bloomberg, EA faced a critical choice between investing hundreds of millions of dollars into Mass Effect 5 or a Star Wars-branded shooter. Faced with debt following a leveraged buyout involving private equity and the Saudi government, the company opted for the safer bet. Star Wars Battlefront 3, despite not having officially entered development, was viewed as a more reliable asset for EA's portfolio of action games compared to the complexities of the RPG genre.
Internal struggles at BioWare also contributed to the downfall. The studio's inconsistent track record—ranging from the reception of Mass Effect: Andromeda to the failure of Anthem—weakened its standing. Even Dragon Age: The Veilguard was unable to fully reverse this trend. Furthermore, corporate restructuring at EA played a role; while BioWare advocates like Laura Miele were moved to roles focused on strategic growth outside core business, executives from EA Sports saw promotions, shifting the company's internal focus.
An EA spokesperson told Bloomberg that the decision to shut down BioWare was a
An EA spokesperson told Bloomberg that the decision to shut down BioWare was a "collective" decision made after months of analysis regarding business conditions, industry dynamics, and long-term priorities. While Respawn or DICE are expected to handle the development of Battlefront 3, the fate of the Mass Effect franchise remains uncertain.
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