Publisher shutters BioWare to back new Star Wars game instead of next Mass Effect

The parent company recently shuttered a major development studio, halting its unreleased space role-playing game while leaving a workforce of fifty people affected. Executives weighed two expensive science fiction properties against each other. Management had to select just one title, as both required massive financial investments costing hundreds of millions.

Mass Effect · official art via IGDB

Opting for a less risky option, leadership backed the franchise based on the galactic film series. That upcoming sequel lacks any active development so far, whereas the canceled installment began production years prior alongside a prepared promotional video clip.

Additional monetary burdens also influenced the shutdown decision. The corporation holds massive liabilities following a significant buyout involving investment funds. Furthermore, a recent fantasy title failed to meet commercial goals by half, building upon previous commercial underperformances from older games.

Devoted supporters reacted strongly to the closure. More than 300k individuals endorsed an online appeal aiming to rescue the intellectual property. Concurrently, a television adaptation by a major streaming company continues moving forward.