BioWare Founder Links Studio Closure to Saudi Buyout

The closure of BioWare, a renowned RPG studio, has been attributed by one of its founders to the Saudi-led acquisition of its parent company, Electronic Arts. The founder stated that the buyout marked the final blow to the studio's future.

The Saudi government has a history of human rights concerns, including issues related to LGBTQ+ rights. Following the acquisition, reports indicated that Mass Effect 5 developers were instructed to reduce inclusivity in their content.

In August, EA employees anonymously expressed fears that the Saudi government might start monitoring game content to align with its policies. BioWare and Mass Effect are known for their LGBTQ+ representation, which raised immediate concerns after the acquisition.

The founder, who left BioWare in 2012, believes EA will focus on sports games and titles like Battlefield. He suggests that complex RPGs are less profitable compared to annual sports game releases.

While the closure is disheartening for RPG fans, there is still hope that franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age could be sold to other developers. However, a former Mass Effect developer has cast doubt on this possibility, noting EA rarely sells its intellectual property.