After the Anthem shutdown, former BioWare executive Mark Darrah said the studio has basically become a one‑project team, now fully focused on making the next Mass Effect.
TL;DR
BioWare Becomes a One-Project Studio After Anthem Shutdown
After Anthem’s servers shut down in January 2026, former BioWare executive Mark Darrah confirmed the studio is now effectively a one-project team, fully focused on the next Mass Effect.
- Anthem officially ended: Servers closed in January 2026, marking the final chapter of BioWare’s troubled live-service experiment.
- One-project focus: BioWare is now concentrating all its resources on the next Mass Effect, abandoning multi-project development.
- Why the shift matters: Darrah says juggling multiple big games caused internal issues in the past; a single focus should improve stability and quality.
- Anthem’s legacy: According to Darrah, Anthem failed due to management and resourcing problems, not a lack of creative ideas.
- BioWare’s past: The studio rose to fame with RPGs like Baldur’s Gate, KOTOR, and later Mass Effect, but struggled with newer projects.
- High stakes: The next Mass Effect is now a make-or-break release that could restore BioWare’s reputation — or deepen doubts about its future.
- Community reaction: Fans are cautiously optimistic, seeing this as a move away from risky live-service games toward what BioWare does best.
Important tips: Expect heavier pressure on the next Mass Effect, fewer side projects from BioWare, and a return to single-player RPG roots rather than live-service experiments.
This change shows that BioWare is putting all its energy into one of its most famous series, giving fans hope that the new game will be a strong comeback.
What ‘One-Project Studio’ Means for BioWare?
Anthem’s servers were closed in January 2026, officially ending the game’s troubled run. In an interview with Destin Legarie, former BioWare executive Mark Darrah explained that the studio has now become a “one‑project” team focused entirely on the next Mass Effect.
Darrah said this approach is very different from BioWare’s past, when the studio tried to manage several big games at once and often struggled. Focusing on a single project is meant to avoid the same production problems that affected earlier titles.
Darrah defended Anthem as a bold creative experiment. He argued that the game wasn’t a failure of ideas but of underresourcing and weak studio management, especially while BioWare was juggling other major projects. He also noted that BioWare has a long history of shifting genres, and Anthem was part of that tradition.
BioWare’s History
BioWare started by making classic role‑playing games such as:
- Baldur’s Gate
- Knights of the Old Republic
These titles helped define the studio’s early RPG development style. They made the studio popular for strong stories and memorable characters. Later, the Mass Effect series became its biggest success. But newer projects, especially Anthem, struggled to meet expectations and caused problems for the studio.
During development, Anthem faced internal issues, changing goals, and unclear direction all of which affected the final product. When the game launched, it received mixed reviews and never fully recovered.
BioWare initially planned a major overhaul called Anthem Next, but those plans were eventually cancelled. Instead, the studio redirected its efforts toward Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the future of Mass Effect, marking a clear shift in priorities.
Effects of a Single‑Franchise Focus
Putting all attention on the next Mass Effect could help BioWare rebuild its reputation and shape the Mass Effect future in a more stable, consistent direction. At the same time, this strategy also brings higher expectations, since many fans are hoping for a strong return after years of mixed releases.
A successful launch could support long‑term recovery, while a disappointing one might deepen concerns about the studio’s future and its ability to deliver the kind of games it was once known for.
Community Reactions
The end of Anthem brought mixed responses from the community. Some players were disappointed to see the game go, especially those who believed it still had untapped potential. And others felt the shutdown was expected after years of development issues.
For many, the move signals a clear shift away from risky live service games and toward a simpler, more focused single‑project strategy supported by Electronic Arts. This change may also reflect a broader effort to stabilize BioWare’s direction and rebuild trust with its audience.
Next chapter for BioWare
BioWare is stepping into a new chapter, and the choices it makes now will shape what the studio becomes next. With Anthem gone and all attention on Mass Effect, the team is taking a simpler, more focused approach.
Do you think concentrating on one major series is the right move, or should the studio continue exploring new ideas in the future?