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Godhood was not enough:’ A fan placed tombstones for EA’s most legendary studios at the company’s offices
An anonymous fan has set up a memorial mural outside Electronic Arts’ Vancouver headquarters, commemorating seven studios the company has shut down. The display turns long-running anger into a tribute to the studios and their games, with its creator saying EA’s reported closure of BioWare was the final prompt.
Each headstone gives a studio’s founding and closure years, alongside a quote inspired by its best-known work. Reactions on Reddit were largely supportive, with commenters recalling games such as Origin’s Ultima and Westwood’s Command & Conquer; others argued that EA’s financial backing and some studios’ choices complicate the picture. The creator acknowledged that nuance, while saying they would have included Mythic and Black Box with more time.
In short
- Fan creates seven-stone memorial outside EA’s Vancouver offices.
- BioWare’s reported closure prompted the display.
- The mural honours studios and their games while sparking debate.
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The case for
The memorial gives fans a way to honour studios whose games shaped their lives and to express concern about the loss of distinctive creative teams. Even where closures had business reasons, the display can prompt a fair debate about whether short-term commercial decisions have come at the cost of valued series, expertise and creative identity.
The case against
A company’s backing can give studios the resources and reach to make ambitious games, while closures may follow commercial pressures or decisions that did not succeed. A memorial focused on studios’ shutdowns can leave out that context and the complexity of responsibility, though the creator acknowledges those complications.
Explained simply
Electronic Arts, usually called EA, is a major video game publisher as well as a developer. Over the years it has bought studios known for making their own games, including BioWare, Origin Systems and Westwood Studios; some became part of EA’s wider operations before later closing.
These studios made series with devoted followings, from role-playing games such as Ultima to strategy games such as Command & Conquer. Their closure can mean the end of a team and its distinctive approach, even when a game series or its rights remain with the publisher.
EA’s role in funding and managing studios has prompted debate among players about how responsibility for closures is shared. The memorial reflects that history and the attachment some fans still feel to the studios’ work.