BioWare developers reportedly tried to buy the studio and the Mass Effect IP before EA shut it down. According to a claim from Baun, who posts as @baundiesel on X, EA showed no interest in a deal that could have given the team a chance to continue independently.
The alleged buyout attempt adds another painful chapter to BioWare’s closure and the cancellation of its next Mass Effect game. While the shutdown has been reported by multiple outlets, the buyout claim remains unconfirmed.
In brief:
- Baun claims BioWare developers attempted to purchase the studio and Mass Effect IP before its closure.
- EA allegedly showed no interest in pursuing the deal.
- The claim provides no purchase price, funding details, or names of the developers involved.
- BioWare’s closure and the end of development on the next Mass Effect have been reported separately.
BioWare Developers Allegedly Tried to Save the Studio and Mass Effect
In the statement shared on X, Baun says they were told that BioWare developers attempted to buy both the studio and the Mass Effect intellectual property before the shutdown.
According to that account, EA had no interest in the proposed deal. Baun also praised the developers for trying and suggested that the team believed strongly in what it was making.
The possibility of a developer-led buyout is an especially frustrating detail. If the report is accurate, people working at BioWare explored a way to keep the studio and franchise together under new ownership.
However, Baun’s statement leaves several details unclear. It doesn’t identify who led the effort, how it would have been financed, or whether EA received a formal offer. It also gives no explanation for the publisher’s alleged lack of interest.
EA’s BioWare Closure Ended the Next Mass Effect Project
EA’s decision to close BioWare also ended early development on the next Mass Effect game. According to reports, the publisher said it was concentrating its efforts on fewer simultaneous, large-scale projects. The decision included closing BioWare’s Edmonton workspace.
Understandably, that makes the alleged buyout attempt particularly relevant. The proposal described by Baun would have included both the developer and the franchise rights, potentially giving a new company a foundation for continuing Mass Effect. Whether the unfinished project itself would have transferred as part of any agreement is unknown.
The BioWare Buyout Claim Remains a Rumor
The supplied statement offers an account of what may have happened behind the scenes, but it doesn’t establish how far any discussions progressed. Baun’s confidence in the team’s work is also their personal assessment, rather than evidence of the canceled game’s quality or readiness.
As of writing, the claim should be treated as an unverified attempt to save BioWare and Mass Effect. Confirmation from developers involved, EA, or further independently sourced reporting would be needed to establish the details of the proposed deal.
