Staff of BioWare are increasingly doubtful about the future of the studio following the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by a consortium that includes Silver Lake, Affinity Partners, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The deal will see EA take on $20 billion in debt from JPMorgan Chase.
In January, several BioWare staff were laid off following the unsatisfactory commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, based on EA’s expectations. At that time, many employees predicted another round of layoffs. Although that didn’t happen, many said they go to work every day feeling it would be their last at BioWare.
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As reported by Insider Gaming, many employees of the studio have expressed more concerns after the acquisition of EA by the consortium. Speaking under the condition of anonymity, one source said, “Look at the negativity that came after Dragon Age. If we felt it was only going to get worse then, you can imagine what some of us think now.”
The EA deal is not expected to close until June 2026, which means there will likely not be any major changes until then. Some employees currently working at BioWare are using the window to look for employment opportunities elsewhere.
“I’ve been doing it since last year, but I’m making sure I have a portfolio ready and feelers out for other jobs,” said a current BioWare employee. “Kind of feels like a matter of time.”
The 50% cut in the number of BioWare employees after the release of Veilguard remains the reason why most of the employees have lost faith in the studio’s future. At some point, it was rumored that EA wanted to sell off the studio, although that hasn’t happened yet.
The employees are still working on Mass Effect under the assumption that it would not be cancelled. More resources have now been added to the game compared to the beginning of the year, when it was being developed by a small team.
BioWare was founded in 1995 with its headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta. The studio was acquired by Electronic Arts on October 11, 2007, alongside Pandemic Studios. However, it remained an independent brand under EA.
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