EA Closes BioWare, the Studio Behind 'Mass Effect' and 'Dragon Age,' After Years of Flops; a GOP Candidate and 'Halo' Composer Blames 'Woke' Themes
The studio announced its closure Oct. 21 after 31 years, ending early work on the next Mass Effect. Its last game drew about half the players EA expected. Marty O'Donnell says politics drove fans away; Fox also cites the studio's earlier misses.
Electronic Arts has shut down BioWare, the studio that made "Mass Effect" and "Dragon Age," Fox News reports.
The closure. BioWare, founded in 1995, announced in an Oct. 21 company blog post that it is closing after 31 years and that early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending. The post said: "Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games and supporting one another through this transition."
The business record. Fox cites a Bloomberg report that the studio struggled with critically panned titles such as "Mass Effect: Andromeda" and "Anthem." Its latest game, "Dragon Age: The Veilguard," drew about 1.5 million players in its launch quarter, nearly 50 percent below EA's expectations, according to the company. Bloomberg says EA gutted the studio last year after the miss. Former "Dragon Age" lead writer David Gaider has said another installment was unlikely under EA.
The culture fight. "The Veilguard" drew criticism for transgender and nonbinary themes, including a character creator option for top surgery scars and a scene where a character misgenders a nonbinary character and performs a fictional apology ritual. Inverse reported backlash two months after release. The game's director, Corinne Busche, who is transgender, told Inverse that identity shaped her approach.
The candidate's view. Marty O'Donnell, a Republican congressional candidate and composer for the "Halo" games, told Fox News Digital: "For the last few years, BioWare hasn't been in touch with its fans as it got infected with woke ideology." He said the game "failed to sell, which surprised no one who understands the industry," and that EA "ruined it by preaching to their audience." He predicted more closures "until the executives wake up and realize fans want politics out of their games."
Note for readers: O'Donnell's view is one opinion. Fox and Bloomberg also point to weak sales and earlier critical flops, and EA's own post does not give a reason. Nothing in the report shows how much any single factor mattered.