Electronic Arts Restructures Studios and Closes BioWare

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Electronic Arts has announced a restructuring of its studios business that includes the closure of BioWare and the loss of about 3% of its global workforce. With EA last reporting 14,500 employees, the reduction amounts to roughly 400 jobs, about 50 of them at BioWare. The changes come after EA was taken private in August in a $55 billion all-cash deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.

A memo built around focus and speed

The changes were set out on October 21, 2026, in a memo to employees from Cam Weber, president and chief studios officer, and David Tinson, president and chief operating officer. The executives wrote that over the past several months the company had reviewed its business and how it operates, and that it is concentrating teams, technology and investment behind three strategic priorities. According to the memo, feedback from staff asked for clearer priorities, faster decisions and closer collaboration between teams, and the company has started simplifying how it works.

BioWare had a small team in early development on a new Mass Effect game. EA decided not to continue that work, which means closing the studio and its Edmonton workspace. "BioWare is a legendary studio that helped define the role-playing genre, and we do not take this decision lightly," Weber and Tinson wrote.

Where the company is concentrating resources

  • Shooters: further Battlefield titles, and the Respawn and DICE studios combined on a future joint project; continued heavy investment in Apex Legends.
  • Action-adventure: delivery of Marvel's Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game, followed by fewer large-scale projects running at the same time.
  • EA Sports: two new projects, including an open-world American football experience called Project Gridiron, and pre-production on a return of Fight Night.
  • Lifestyle: priority for Project Evergreen in The Sims, with development of Project Lotus paused, and a smaller, more focused team for skate.

The memo said affected employees will be supported in exploring other roles inside EA, and that the company's direction will be discussed at its next global town hall in November.

Source: Building EA's Next Chapter