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Canadian BioWare fans are calling on the government to fund the studio
BioWare fans have petitioned the Canadian government to help the studio become independent, arguing that its games are a major cultural export and reflect Canadian values. The campaign follows EA’s announcement that it is closing the studio, raising questions about what will happen to its staff and intellectual property.
The petition asks for public funding to buy BioWare’s intellectual property from EA and for stronger protection of Canadian game developers from foreign corporate interests. Only Canadian residents or citizens can sign. It is unclear whether EA would agree to a sale, particularly as a Mass Effect television series is still in development; a separate petition about the series has received 299,618 signatures.
In short
- Fans want Canada to fund BioWare’s independence.
- The petition seeks to buy the studio’s intellectual property from EA.
- EA’s willingness to sell remains unclear.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Public support could preserve skilled jobs, keep valuable creative properties in Canada and sustain a studio whose games are seen by supporters as part of the country’s cultural contribution. If the investment were carefully assessed and tied to public benefits, proponents could argue that it would help protect Canadian developers and intellectual property from decisions made by foreign owners.
The case against
Buying BioWare’s intellectual property would require public money for assets whose future value is uncertain, while any sale would depend on EA’s agreement. Critics could argue that government funds have competing priorities and that direct support for one studio risks favouring a particular company or industry over others; private investment or support for workers across the sector might be fairer ways to address the closure.
Explained simply
BioWare is a video game studio based in Canada, known for role-playing games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Its games are owned by Electronic Arts (EA), a large US-based publisher, which controls the rights to the characters and fictional worlds as well as the games themselves.
The debate involves BioWare’s fans, the Canadian government and EA. The petition’s backers want public money used to buy the rights from EA, but any sale would depend on EA’s agreement and could affect plans to develop Mass Effect for television.
The case has raised wider questions about the future of Canadian game developers and who controls the stories and creative work they produce. BioWare’s staff and the rights to its games are separate issues, so the studio’s future would not automatically determine who owns those games.