Electronic Arts reportedly favored a potential Star Wars: Battlefront 3 project over the next Mass Effect game as the publisher reassessed its development spending following its acquisition agreement with a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, EA executives considered Star Wars a safer investment, a decision that may have contributed to the reported cancellation of Mass Effect and the closure of BioWare.
The report arrives shortly after news emerged that Lucasfilm was searching for a development partner for its next Star Wars: Battlefront game. Although the project has not been officially announced as Battlefront 3, earlier reports suggested that Lucasfilm was considering EA’s DICE and Sony-owned Bungie for development. EA’s reported interest in the franchise could give the publisher another opportunity to expand its shooter portfolio.
According to Schreier’s report, EA executives reviewed potential upcoming projects and compared their expected development costs and commercial prospects. Both the next Mass Effect installment and a new Battlefront game were reportedly expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars to produce. However, Star Wars was considered the less risky option, partly because of EA’s experience with large-scale shooters, including the Battlefield franchise.
BioWare’s recent financial performance also appears to have influenced the decision. Dragon Age: The Veilguard reportedly represented a “last chance” for the studio, but its commercial performance failed to meet expectations. Mass Effect: Andromeda had also experienced a difficult launch and disappointing sales, while Anthem became another major setback for the developer.
These failures reportedly made it harder for BioWare to secure continued investment as EA looked to reduce costs and focus on projects with stronger commercial potential. The publisher’s experience with Battlefield 6 and other shooter franchises may have further strengthened the case for investing in another Star Wars multiplayer title rather than continuing development on Mass Effect.
However, EA’s reported preference for Star Wars does not confirm that Battlefront 3 has received final approval or that DICE will lead development. Lucasfilm has yet to announce its development partner, and EA has not officially confirmed the project’s status. The situation leaves the future of both Mass Effect and Star Wars: Battlefront uncertain, with fans waiting for official announcements.
