Electronic Arts (EA) is planning to close BioWare, the developer of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, and lay off employees to focus on more lucrative projects, the company said in an email to employees on Wednesday.

EA said it would cancel an early-stage Mass Effect project and close BioWare’s studio in Edmonton, Canada, marking the end of the developer known for role-playing game franchises and titles like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

In a statement on X, BioWare wrote, “After more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing, and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending.

“There is nothing easy about writing those words. Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition,” the studio added. “These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with the characters, and made these worlds your own.”

EA is planning to cut around 400 jobs, about three per cent of its total staff, including roughly 50 at BioWare, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the company’s plans.

The video game publisher said it would concentrate on fewer large-scale action-adventure games, while continuing development of Marvel’s Iron Man and the next Star Wars Jedi game.

EA also said it was restructuring the team behind skateboarding simulation skate into a smaller, more focused studio.

The company said it would help affected employees explore other opportunities within the publisher.

EA was taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, which closed in August.