EA Closes BioWare, Cyberpunk 2077 Gets Update 2.5

Oct 22, 2026

Electronic Arts is closing BioWare and ending work on the next Mass Effect, while CD Projekt Red details a new Cyberpunk 2077 update The VergeGamesIndustry.bizEurogamer. Xbox is testing prepaid cloud gaming as reports point to changes for Game Pass and the Project Helix hardware timeline Xbox WirePure XboxThis Week in Video Games.

EA Closes BioWare and Ends Work on the Next Mass Effect

EA is shutting down BioWareEA Halts Development on Mobile Multiplayer Sims Game in Favor of Rumored Sims 4 SequelThe VergeIGN

Electronic Arts is closing BioWare after more than 30 years and ending early development on the next Mass Effect, while cutting around 400 jobs company-wide, including about 50 at the studio The VergeGamesIndustry.biz. EA has also paused an unannounced mobile multiplayer Sims project as it moves forward with a rumored Sims 4 sequel, and layoffs have hit Skate developer Full Circle IGNVGC.

EA confirms that DICE and Respawn are collaborating on a project; reports have linked the work to Star Wars Battlefront 3, which has not been officially announced IGNPush Square.

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 Adds Edgerunners Content and Cross-Platform Mods

Cyberpunk 2077’s update for Edgerunners 2 brings mods to PS5, Switch 2, and XboxCD Projekt Red details new Cyberpunk 2077 update - adding dual-wielding, cross-platform mods, Edgerunners story quests, and moreThe VergeEurogamer

Cyberpunk 2077 version 2.5 arrives October 22 with cross-platform mod support for PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox, alongside dual-wielding pistols and revolvers and customizable cyberware The VergeEurogamer. Edgerunners tie-ins include a new story quest, a gear set and a radio station playing music from the Netflix series The Verge.

Xbox Tests Prepaid Cloud Playtime as Game Pass Changes Are Reported

Cloud Playtime Now Available to Test with XBOX InsidersReport: Xbox Planning Major Overhaul Of Game Pass With 'À La Carte' OptionsXbox WirePure Xbox

Xbox Insiders can test Cloud Playtime, a prepaid option for streaming games without a Game Pass subscription. Packages range from $3.99 for 10 hours to $11.99 for 50 hours, with broader availability planned for November Xbox WirePure Xbox. Separately, a report says Xbox is planning à la carte Game Pass options for console games, cloud gaming and multiplayer Pure Xbox.

Xbox Project Helix Reportedly Targets a 2028 Console Launch

Xbox's next-gen console to reportedly cost up to $1,800, with a Helix handheld coming in 2027 and a full release in holiday 2028Project Helix reportedly launching in late 2028, projected to cost between $1,200 and $1,800EurogamerGamesIndustry.biz

Project Helix, Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox hardware, is reportedly targeting a handheld release in 2027 and a home console in holiday 2028, with the console estimated to cost between $1,200 and $1,800 EurogamerGamesIndustry.bizThis Week in Video Games.

Stranger Than Heaven Previews Detail Its Five-Decade Story

Preview: 3 Hours with Stranger Than Heaven Left Me Partly Convinced, Partly Concerned, and Craving GyudonRoundup: Here's What The First Previews Are Saying About Stranger Than HeavenPush SquarePure Xbox

SEGA’s Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled to launch on January 15, 2027, following a new round of hands-on previews of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s action-adventure Push SquareIGN. The story spans five decades, with close-quarters combat alongside show-business elements such as composing songs and staging live performances Pure XboxPlayStation Blog.

End of Thursday's overview · 5 stories from 10 outlets