Early this week, in one of the biggest corporate shakeups in gaming history, EA announced its plans to go private. A buyout organized by Affinity Partners, Silver Lake, and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, will run for $55 billion, with EA taking on $20 billion in debt from JP Morgan Chase. Some may see the buyout as opportunity to right the ship at EA. But others aren’t quite as thrilled.
Bioware’s Future Uncertain
It’s no secret that EA-owned Bioware has had a rough decade. Since Mass Effect 3 was released, the studio’s output hasn’t hit the same highs. Anthem‘s servers are set to shut down next year, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed to hit sales goals after a chaotic, lengthy development. After a wave of layoffs in January, Insider Gaming reports that some inside Bioware are apprehensive about EA going private. The prevailing fear: another wave of layoffs once new management takes over.
“Look at the negativity that came after Dragon Age,” said one anonymous employee who spoke to Insider. “If we felt it was only going to get worse then, you can imagine what some of us think now.”
Another said they had a portfolio prepared and were sending out feelers for other jobs. “Kind of feels like a matter of time.”
The studio numbers less than 100 employees after the latest round of layoffs, small for a storied studio such as Bioware. The biggest project in development right now is a new Mass Effect game, and staff are working under the assumption it will be released.
A Shuttered Studio, or a Second Chance?
Many assume that the new owners of EA will focus the company exclusively towards mass-market appeal. That means more shooters and sports, less fantasy or sci-fi RPGs. But on the other hand, a change in management could revitalize Bioware if given the time and resources it needs. Affinity, Silver Lake, and the PIF haven’t announced their business strategy for EA just yet, and the sale itself won’t be completed until 2027. For now, Bioware will continue to work on Mass Effect, and hope that their efforts keep the studio going through this monumental change.
Original reporting by Insider Gaming. For more coverage, check back regularly with our Other Games section.
