Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider has expressed sadness over Electronic Arts' decision to close BioWare, describing the studio as one of the most influential role playing game developers in the industry's history.
Gaider, who spent nearly 17 years at BioWare, said the closure affected him more deeply than expected despite leaving the company almost a decade ago.
His comments follow EA's announcement that BioWare would shut down as part of wider restructuring affecting approximately 400 employees.
The closure also brings an end to development of the next Mass Effect game.
David Gaider Recalls BioWare's Success With Baldur's Gate 2
Gaider joined BioWare in 1999 and worked on Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn before becoming a leading writer on the Dragon Age franchise.
He left BioWare in 2016 and later helped establish Summerfall Studios in 2019.
Reflecting on his former employer, Gaider said BioWare's influence on the gaming industry was undeniable.
"At its height, no other studio in the world did it better," he said.
He particularly remembered the release of Baldur's Gate 2 in September 2000, describing the uncertainty surrounding its development.
According to Gaider, the team had removed significant amounts of planned content and struggled to resolve every outstanding bug before release.
Developers were concerned that players would be disappointed by the compromises.
However, the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Gaider recalled colleagues sharing enthusiastic forum discussions and reviews throughout the office, providing reassurance that their work had succeeded.
The experience helped convince him to pursue game development as a lifelong career.
BioWare Closure Ends More Than Three Decades of RPG Development
BioWare became known for influential role playing games including Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
Its approach to storytelling, companion relationships, and player decisions influenced later RPG developers.
EA's closure announcement follows its $55 billion acquisition by an investment consortium involving Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
The transaction was completed in August 2026.
Although Gaider acknowledged that BioWare's closure was foreseeable given recent industry conditions, he expressed disappointment at how the studio's history ended.
The decision removes one of the most established names in narrative driven game development.
While BioWare will no longer produce new games, its earlier titles continue influencing modern RPG design and the developers who followed its work.
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