EA Reportedly Chose Star Wars Over Mass Effect, a Decision That Sealed BioWare’s Fate

A financial showdown between two major sci-fi franchises may have played a part in the closure of BioWare, the studio behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, according to a new Bloomberg report. Electronic Arts was reportedly deciding whether to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the upcoming Mass Effect: Universe or an unannounced Star Wars: Battlefront project. It ultimately chose to focus its resources on Star Wars.

EA’s financial situation following its debt-funded buyout of the company reportedly also played a significant role in the decision. According to the report, the transaction left it with $18 billion in debt, which it must repay from operating profits. In an effort to limit risk and maximize returns on investment, the company chose the Star Wars franchise, which it considers more predictable, over a new Mass Effect. And as a multiplayer game, EA would be able to monetize it more effectively.

The decision also conflicts with the strategic direction EA announced two years ago, when it said it wanted to move away from licensed games. Just 18 months ago, it also canceled the upcoming open-world Black Panther game and closed Cliffhanger Games. However, the plan to leave licensed projects behind was never absolute—EA is still working on, for example, a game featuring Marvel’s Iron Man.

Internal power struggles may also have influenced the situation. Bloomberg mentions changes in EA’s leadership and the sidelining of longtime EA Entertainment president Laura Miele, who supported BioWare and especially the Mass Effect series.

The cancellation of Mass Effect: Universe left BioWare without any active projects, giving EA another reason to close the studio. BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk criticized the decision in a recent interview with 80.lv, saying that companies like EA don’t understand game development.

The question now is who will be next. Criterion has already lost its own projects and is now mainly tasked with helping develop the Battlefield games, while the Burnout and Need for Speed franchises remain on the sidelines. Respawn Entertainment has also been hit by significant layoffs following the cancellation of several projects. In an environment where the fate of entire studios is decided by financial calculations and expected returns, it’s unclear which franchise or team will be next.

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