In a nutshell
- A new report claims EA chose to close BioWare and cancel its next Mass Effect project to focus resources on Star Wars Battlefront 3.
- Executives reportedly viewed Star Wars Battlefront 3 as a safer bet than a new Mass Effect game due to the scale and cost of both projects.
- Battlefront 3 is reportedly being developed through a collaboration between DICE and Respawn Entertainment.
Electronic Arts’ decision to shut down the legendary RPG studio BioWare may have been driven largely by its desire to bring back the Star Wars Battlefront franchise, according to a new report.
Last week, EA announced the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of the next Mass Effect project, ending more than three decades of history for one of gaming’s most influential developers. Now, a report from Bloomberg, claims that the publisher’s renewed focus on Star Wars Battlefront 3 played a major role in the decision.
EA Reportedly Chose Star Wars Battlefront 3 Over Mass Effect
According to sources familiar with the situation, EA executives were reviewing the company’s future lineup while also considering financial pressures following its acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. During that process, leadership reportedly concluded that maintaining development on both the next Mass Effect and Star Wars Battlefront 3 would be too costly, with each project expected to require hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.
The report claims EA ultimately decided that a new Star Wars title offered a stronger chance of commercial success than continuing development on Mass Effect, leading to the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of its in-development project, reportedly known internally as Mass Effect Universe.
While the Star Wars versus Mass Effect decision is said to be one of the key factors, the report also notes that BioWare’s recent releases did not achieve the same critical acclaim as the studio’s earlier classics, alongside other internal business considerations.
Following EA’s restructuring announcement, Variety reported that the publisher plans to unite DICE and Respawn Entertainment on a future project. Multiple sources identified that project as Star Wars Battlefront 3.
