Report Claims EA Shut BioWare to Fund Star Wars: Battlefront 3 Over Mass Effect

Electronic Arts reportedly chose to close legendary RPG studio BioWare to fund a different galactic war. According to a Bloomberg report covered by IGN and others, EA executives felt they could only financially support one massive sci-fi project and picked an unannounced Star Wars: Battlefront sequel over the next Mass Effect.

The decision came as EA contends with significant debt following a major acquisition, per the report. Both potential games carried enormous price tags, but the Star Wars title was viewed as less risky despite not having entered full production.

BioWare's recent commercial struggles with titles like Anthem and Dragon Age: The Veilguard reportedly hurt its standing internally. A leaked internal trailer for the canceled Mass Effect 5, verified by IGN, showed off classic series hallmarks like biotic powers, alien species, and the iconic galactic map.

The studio's co-founder Greg Zeschuk told Bloomberg the company's buyout was "the final nail in the coffin," suggesting the new ownership favored more predictable annual sports titles. While a fan petition to save Mass Effect gains signatures, Amazon's separate TV adaptation remains in development. The Star Wars: Battlefront 3 project is now reportedly underway at Respawn and DICE.