The next Mass Effect was canceled, and BioWare closed, mainly because Electronic Arts chose to fund Star Wars Battlefront 3 instead, Bloomberg reported on October 30. The report by Jason Schreier, published around 14:00 UTC, is based on anonymous sources. EA has not confirmed the Star Wars link. In a new statement to Bloomberg, it said only that the closure followed “months of planning, review, and analysis”.
The closure itself was confirmed by EA on October 21 (see our report on EA closing BioWare and cancelling the next Mass Effect). What’s new today is the reported reason.
Table of Contents
Why Mass Effect was canceled, according to Bloomberg
Schreier shared the story on Bluesky at 14:02 UTC, linking to his Bloomberg newsletter. Its key points, as quoted by Eurogamer, VGC and Kotaku:
- Sources: unnamed “people familiar with the company’s strategy” (Eurogamer). VGC says they spoke anonymously. No source is named.
- The choice: the “recent emergence” of a chance to make a third Battlefront left EA with two sci-fi action games, each likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. EA reportedly felt it couldn’t fund both.
- The reasoning: executives saw Battlefront 3 “as a less risky, more predictable bet than a new Mass Effect,” Bloomberg wrote.
- The debt: EA carries about $18 billion of debt from its $55 billion buyout, according to the report.
- Battlefront 3 itself: development has not started yet, Bloomberg reports.
Bloomberg names other factors too: BioWare’s weaker recent games (Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem, Dragon Age: The Veilguard) and an executive reshuffle. Kotaku’s summary says BioWare backer Laura Miele, the former COO and chief studios officer, was replaced by EA Sports veterans David Tinson and Cam Weber. Eurogamer adds that EA bosses complained about Veilguard’s sales and suggested it would have done better as “a live service game”.
On Bluesky, Schreier explained the logic: “EA needs predictable annual cash flow to service its debt. So a Battlefront 3 that hits its deadlines is more valuable than a Mass Effect that will likely be delayed multiple times.”
Mordin Solus in Mass Effect 2, part of the trilogy BioWare remastered in Legendary Edition. Image: Electronic Arts / BioWare
EA’s new statement on the BioWare closure
EA had not posted anything new on its newsroom as of 15:10 UTC. Instead, a spokesperson gave Bloomberg a statement, as quoted by Eurogamer, VGC and Game Rant. The company said it “collectively reached this decision following months of planning, review, and analysis, including careful consideration of evolving business conditions, industry dynamics, and our long-term priorities.” It added:
“While this is never easy, we ultimately have to make tough decisions to focus our teams on the biggest opportunities for our future, including investing in new projects across our portfolio.”
It doesn’t mention Star Wars, Battlefront or Lucasfilm, and neither confirms nor denies Bloomberg’s account.
What EA confirmed vs what is reported
| Claim | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BioWare and its Edmonton workspace are closing | Confirmed | EA letter, Oct 21 |
| Early development on the next Mass Effect is over | Confirmed | EA letter, Oct 21 |
| Respawn and DICE will “collaborate on a future project” | Confirmed (game unnamed) | EA letter, Oct 21 |
| That project is Star Wars Battlefront 3 | Reported | Variety (Oct 21), Bloomberg |
| Mass Effect was dropped mainly to fund Battlefront 3 | Reported | Bloomberg, anonymous sources |
| Battlefront 3 hasn’t started development | Reported | Bloomberg |
| Decision followed “months of planning, review, and analysis” | EA statement | EA spokesperson to Bloomberg, Oct 30 |
EA’s October 21 letter said “a small team at BioWare” had been working on Mass Effect. It gave no number of jobs affected. It said only that EA “will support impacted employees in exploring other opportunities within EA”. EA’s sale to PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners closed on August 4, 2026.
Star Wars Battlefront II (2017), DICE's last Battlefront game. Image: Electronic Arts / DICE / Lucasfilm
Where Star Wars Battlefront 3 stands
Neither EA nor Lucasfilm has announced Battlefront 3. Variety first tied the Respawn and DICE project to Star Wars, citing multiple sources (more in our Star Wars Battlefront 3 explainer). A gossip column in EGM had linked Bungie to the game earlier this month. When a reader asked about that, Schreier replied: “DICE and Respawn will make Battlefront III.”
The Save Mass Effect petition stood at 283,924 signatures toward a 300,000 goal when we checked at 15:13 UTC. Our guide to the Save Mass Effect petition explains what it asks EA to do. EA’s statement doesn’t address the petition or the leaked Mass Effect Universe trailer.
What’s next
EA told staff it would discuss its direction at a Global Town Hall in November. Fans have planned a Mass Effect Legendary Edition play session for N7 Day on November 7. We’ll update this story if EA or Lucasfilm officially names the Respawn and DICE project, or if EA gives more detail on the closure. Follow the day’s other stories on our gaming news live page.
Sources: Bloomberg (Jason Schreier), via Eurogamer, VGC, Kotaku and Game Rant; Jason Schreier on Bluesky; EA, “Building EA’s Next Chapter” (Oct 21) and acquisition announcement (Aug 4); Variety; change.org petition page.
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Featured image: Electronic Arts / BioWare
