EA reportedly closed BioWare to bet on Star Wars Battlefront 3 over Mass Effect

EA shut down BioWare mainly so it could put its money into Star Wars Battlefront 3 instead of a new Mass Effect, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier.

EA recently announced it was closing the studio behind Dragon Age and canceling the Mass Effect game it was working on. Bloomberg's report, citing people familiar with the decision, now lays out the reasoning.

According to the report, EA executives reviewed their upcoming portfolio and had to choose between two sci-fi action games, each expected to cost several hundred million dollars to develop. They chose Star Wars.

"They chose to invest in Star Wars and shut down BioWare as a result, said the people familiar, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to talk to the press," Schreier wrote.

Here's the part that stings for Mass Effect fans. Per Bloomberg, Battlefront 3 hasn't begun development yet, and EA hasn't officially announced it. Schreier wrote that EA executives saw it as "a less risky, more predictable bet than a new Mass Effect," adding that the publisher "has always been more comfortable with shooters than RPGs."

Money pressure reportedly played a big role. EA is carrying $18 billion in leveraged debt after its sale to a business consortium and Saudi Arabia's investment fund, which GameSpot notes added to the push to cut costs.

Schreier also pointed to "corporate politics." Senior EA exec Laura Miele, described as one of BioWare's key advocates, was reportedly sidelined when EA Sports veterans David Tinson and Cam Weber were promoted.

BioWare's recent track record didn't help its case either, with Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem and 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard all cited among the studio's struggles over the last decade. EA hasn't publicly commented on the report's claims.