Electronic Arts cut around 400 jobs—about 3% of its staff—including roughly 50 positions at BioWare before closing the studio, and now a new feature documentary titled Massive Effect: The BioWare Story is in the works from Canada’s Fennessey Films and Score G Productions, backed by Super Channel, chronicling the studio’s rise and final days under Electronic Arts following its Edmonton studio closure and a round of job cuts.
Cameras Capture the Studio’s Final Chapter
Because filming began two years ago, well before Electronic Arts announced its closure decisions, the production team was able to capture BioWare’s last days as news of the shutdown spread through the gaming world.
Electronic Arts announced in October that it was closing BioWare and shutting down its Edmonton workspace, ending an EA studio run that began in 2007. Mass Effect: Andromeda
and Anthem
underwhelmed some fans, while Dragon Age: The Veilguard spent a decade in development turmoil and underperformed after its 2024 release. The publisher also cancelled early development on the next Mass Effect
game, which had been announced in 2020.
'Massive Effect: The BioWare Story,' a documentary about the studio’s rise and end, is set to premiere in 2027 featuring figures including former EA CEO John Riccitiello, Casey Hudson, and Geoff Keighley. Created by @ShaneFen and @AdamScoreG, it began filming two years ago. pic.twitter.com/pnfsHshIiA
EA cut around 400 jobs—about 3% of its staff—including roughly 50 positions at BioWare.
Industry Veterans and Voice Actors Join Documentary Cast
The documentary features a lineup of participants, including co-founders Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip, alongside former developers Casey Hudson, Mark Darrah, David Gaider, Drew Karpyshyn, Aaryn Flynn, and Mac Walters. Commander Shepard voice actress Jennifer Hale appears in the film, alongside Lucasfilm Games vice president Douglas Reilly, John Riccitiello, and The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley. Co-founders Muzyka and Zeschuk stated that the production team’s request for their blessing left them honored and deeply moved.
Industry veteran Warren Spector condemned the move as a farce
, and an online fan petition calling for action gained traction.
Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, who both voiced Commander Shepard, supported a fan-led initiative called #SaveMassEffect that drew many thousands of signatures from supporters within days.
A documentary about BioWare is in the works. The documentary tells the story of BioWare's history from inside the studio as well as their final days when they were closed down by EA. (Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/vOXnSQc303
Producers Plan Film Festival Run and World Premiere
Producers Shane Fennessey and Adam Scorgie—whose companies also worked on Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story, Dolph: Unbreakable
, and Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo—are planning a major film festival run and a world premiere in 2027. Super Channel executive Kim Ball noted that the Edmonton-based company is proud to celebrate BioWare’s hometown story for Canadian audiences.
