- EA could sell BioWare and some other IPs under its care following the Saudi Arabia takeover.
- There will be mass layoffs at the gaming giant to cut costs, and some studios might be closed.
- The company previously tried to sell BioWare in 2025, but talks eventually fell through.
EA’s acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund finally closed this month, making the gaming giant a private entity with over $20 billion in debt. The deal has certainly had its critics, with some even claiming that EA will now turn into a sequel machine.
Considering how the company just announced that it will cut $700 million in costs, leading to layoffs, EA isn’t doing a lot to silence the critics either. As it turns out, layoffs might just be the beginning, as the new owners may even sell entire studios and IPs.
Why it matters: Despite stumbling in recent times, BioWare is still a legendary developer with iconic games and franchises under its wing. Hence, selling it could be a mistake.
As reported by Mike Straw on BlueSky, EA could look to offload BioWare in its bid to cut $700 million in annual spending. While answering a fan’s question, the insider revealed that mass layoffs will happen at the company in the next 12 months, and entire studios like BioWare could be closed or sold off.
Moreover, EA will also look to auction off some of its IPs, but Mike Straw isn’t sure which franchises are on the chopping block. Regardless, the sale of BioWare alongside its tentpole games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age is now highly likely.
According to reports from last October, EA also attempted to offload BioWare after the failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. However, talks to sell the studio fell through, and the gaming giant instead decided to greenlight Mass Effect 5, which is currently in production, with EA showing full commitment to the IP.
However, the mandate has now changed after the $55 billion takeover, and as former BioWare lead writer Patrick Weekes predicted, the studio’s existence is on thin ice under new management.
Do you think selling a studio with iconic IPs like Mass Effect and Dragon Age is a good idea? What franchises can EA auction off to pay off the massive debt it has racked up? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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