Fan Builds Graveyard for EA-Shuttered Studios
A fan placed tombstones honoring studios closed by Electronic Arts outside an EA office, including BioWare, whose shutdown was made official in October 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in eSports
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A fan built a graveyard of tombstones outside an Electronic Arts office to honor studios shut down by the company, including BioWare, which EA closed in October 2026. Protests have also appeared in Madrid and Times Square, New York City, where fans urged EA to save Mass Effect.
Why it matters
The protests reflect fan anger over the loss of BioWare and the cancellation of Mass Effect Universe, a project the studio had worked on for over five years. The displays spotlight the cost to players of studio closures in the games industry.
The memorial lists six studios closed by EA, including Bullfrog, Pandemic, Visceral, Westwood, Origin, and Maxis, and BioWare had spent over five years on Mass Effect Universe before its cancellation. EA's response to the protests and any plans for the franchise remain unannounced.
The players
Electronic Arts (EA)
Electronic Arts is a major American video game publisher whose 2026 acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake has drawn scrutiny from the gaming community.
BioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game studio best known for developing the Mass Effect trilogy, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the Dragon Age series.
The details
A fan set up the display outside EA offices in their town for Halloween, with each tombstone bearing a studio's logo, its establishment and closure dates, a quote, and 'RIP'. Separate protests included 'Save Mass Effect' spray-painted outside an EA office in Madrid and a billboard bought in Times Square.
Timeline
October 2026: EA's shutdown of BioWare became official.
Halloween 2026: Fan built the graveyard outside EA offices.
The Tech Race
The closures fit a wider pattern in which large publishers consolidate studios after leveraged buyouts, a pattern fans increasingly contest. Protests like these signal growing player resistance to decisions that end long-running franchises.
Players who followed Mass Effect Universe will not receive the game, and fans of BioWare's Dragon Age and Star Wars titles should watch for any further changes to those franchises. No specific upcoming dates for EA's response have been announced.
The takeaway
Fan campaigns like this one show how players can make their frustration with studio closures visible, even when publishers stay silent.
Further reading
Explore more eSports coverage for context on how studio closures affect the competitive and fan landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Polygon.
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