BioWare’s Closure is Tragic, But Its Legacy Will Live On: Here’s How
BioWare's closure will pain fans for weeks, months, and likely years to come. While we can't change the fact that BioWare as we know it is gone, there are some things we can do to show our support to the former devs and their games.
It’s been a few days since the announcement of BioWare’s closure. The news still doesn’t sting any less, and I know it won’t for a long time.
You could say that the writing was on the wall for the Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer, which announced its closure on Oct. 21, 2026. Electronic Arts acquired them in 2007, and the publisher has a history of buying up studios, exerting misguided influence on them, and squeezing out all the money they can before the studio is a husk of its former self.
Over time, BioWare underwent this same unfortunate process, despite some major successes like the critically acclaimed Mass Effect series and 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition winning Game of the Year.
This coupled with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund acquiring EA in August gave BioWare no chance to thrive or ultimately survive.
But even with all of this in mind, I still didn’t expect BioWare to close. I know some of it was coping. I’ve been a huge fan of their work since I first booted up Mass Effect on the Xbox 360 nearly a decade ago. Since then, I’ve played every release from them. (Yes, even Anthem).
I love how their games allowed players to forge their own stories. I love the detailed, thoughtful worlds and lore they created. I love the characters that made me laugh, cry, scream, and root for.
The Dragon Age series prompted so many fun conversations between friends on choices and romance.The Mass Effect series let me save the galaxy my way, and at the same time, it helped me cope with my parents’ divorce and other hardships during an uncertain period of life.
My story with BioWare’s games is one of many, from the hardcore fans to the developers who have come and gone over the years.
Around 50 were laid off due to the studio’s closure. They had been working on the next Mass Effect game in earnest, and since the studio shut down, we’ve gotten more and more information on what this game could’ve looked like.
Spoiler alert, I think it had A LOT of promise, at least according to this mega Mass Effect fan.
The Next Mass Effect Sounded Incredible, Per Sources
Not even a full day after BioWare’s announced closure, news began trickling in on the latest Mass Effect game and what it entailed.
According to BioWare insiders on Twitter/X, a trailer for the upcoming game leaked on Reddit, and its title was Mass Effect Universe.
The trailer showcased an N7 operative who didn’t seem as keen on the military as Commander Shepard. Speaking with an Asari in a bar, he noted its stagnancy.
“… That was the problem. By the time you put out one fire, another had already started.”
A bar fight soon ensues, but not before we see Liara T’Soni herself as a fully fledged Asari Matriarch, thus confirming this game would be set hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3.
We got even more info after the trailer released. Mass Effect Universe would continue the series’ mainstays of having a customizable N7 operative, experimental technology, handcrafted missions, romance, etc.
It would also introduce some new concepts that I absolutely would’ve loved to see: a galaxy split among three factions; a galactic cold war, and humans, Krogans AND Batarians working together!
The more I learn about Mass Effect Universe, the more sad I am that we’ll never get to see what it could have been. It sounded like a step in the right direction for the franchise, both for longtime fans and new players looking for a modern entry point.
The Games Former BioWare Devs Are Working On
While our chances of ever playing Mass Effect Universe are slim to none, former BioWare devs have been working on new projects, and they retain some of what made BioWare games special.
Exodus
Former BioWare staff James Ohlen, Chad Robertson and Drew Karpyshyn teamed up to become what’s now Archetype Entertainment, and their first game is set to come out next year.
Exodus is a sci-fi action adventure RPG that greatly resembles the Mass Effect series. It includes a spacefaring saga, a team of complex companions, third-person shooter gameplay, and the opportunity for players to forge their own story.
Exodus will release on April 7, 2027.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic
At last year’s Game Awards, we saw the first glimpse of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic and found out its dev team is comprised of several former BioWare employees. Casey Hudson, who directed Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic, is leading this project as head of Arcanaut Studios.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is a single-player narrative-driven action RPG set in a vast galaxy, where your decisions will shape your story and lead you down a path of light or darkness. No release date has been announced.
Summerfall Studios
BioWare veteran David Gaider co-founded Summerfall Studios in 2019, and since then, the team has released two games.
Stray Gods, a narrative adventure RPG, released in 2023. You play as Grace, a singer who’s accused of murdering a muse from Greek mythology, and must convince members of the Greek pantheon that she’s innocent. It features dialogue choices and branching storylines.
Malys, a roguelite deckbuilder, released in 2025. It features Noah, a former priest, who must contend with demons as you determine his path forward.
Studio Reset
Three former BioWare devs: Kaelin Lavallée, Kris Schoneberg, and Francis Lacuna, recently formed Studio Reset. Each of them previously worked on the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series.
They are currently making their debut game, which will feature a supernatural mystery set in a Canadian cityscape, according to their website.
BioWare Fans Hold the Torch Now
BioWare’s closure will pain fans for weeks, months, and likely years to come.
While we can’t change the fact that BioWare as we know it is gone, there are some things we can do to show our support to the former devs and their games.
Uplift the developers who recently lost their jobs. When they’re ready for new opportunities, share their posts looking for work to help them find new projects.
Support the games that former developers are already working on and will create in the future. The more we support them, the more games we could get with BioWare’s influence.
Share why you love BioWare games, what makes them special, why others should play them, and don’t ever stop.
After all, there’s power in stories, both ours and BioWare’s, and I’ll leave the rest to one of the best characters the studio ever gave us: Varric Tethras.
“There’s power in stories, though. That’s all history is: the best tales. The ones that last. Might as well be mine.”
13 comments
After finishing mass effect 1, seeing this getting announced its so sad.
It’s annoying to build a whole universe with all this lore to throw it all out due to closures.
Such a shame.
Yep a real shame. Might re-play Mass Effect myself now.
The EA experience 😑
Great write-up!
It’s sad. But with EA, I could not be surprised.
Dragon Age is one of those games that I really enjoyed all those years ago. I have never played the sequels. Mass Effect was something I was always interested in but never really got into… I did not have an XBOX at the time. I think I’ll eventually try to play it because I’ll probably enjoy it. Let’s hope someday ME Universe makes a comeback, maybe outside EA..
Exodus looks super promising! And I found Stray Gods in the Discord, and it’s on my wishlist. It seems to be right up my alley.
Hoping for a comeback on Mass Effect as well.
Dragon age Origins was my obsession growing up it felt
It’s so unfortunate. Maybe one day EA will let go of the IPs but doubt it and they will just collect dust on a shelf.
Growing up a huge Dragon age fan I’m devastated. The world and universe has so much to offer from a story and lore standpoint. But EA did what EA does and now the fans pay the price. (Along with those who lost their jobs)
EA is just the worse…
Amazing write up about this. I am sad to see Bioware close cause Mass Effect and Dragon Age were a big part of my gaming life back on the 360. Mass Effect 2 will always be my favorite game from the series. Hopefully one day we can see Mass Effect revived again don’t know when but one thing for sure is that once another one is shown I will be there day one for sure. Exodus is looking pretty good from what I see so far. Also The Expanse: Osiris Reborn looks interesting if anyone wants to look that one up as well.
I really need to finally start Mass Effect. Bought the Legendary collection for like 7$ lol
For sure. A really good game. Just redownloaded the legendary edition to done a another run through.
I love seeing that the devs are working on projects and can continue to use their expertise for the future. This sucks overall, but there’s always a silver lining
Very true. Here’s to hoping to see what amazing things they can do out there.