Electronic Arts closed BioWare, marking the end of the studio known for franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The decision followed a leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group and Jared Kushner's private equity firm, which critics argue prioritized short-term profit over long-term stability.
A Change.org petition demanding EA revive the Mass Effect series surpassed 200,000 signatures, with supporters arguing the franchise deserves continued development. Meanwhile, Canadian NDP leader Avi Lewis criticized private equity practices, calling for federal support to let BioWare employees buy the studio.