Star Wars: The Old Republic Fans Say Goodbye to BioWare

Electronic Arts has shut down BioWare, and the news has quickly spread through the communities of the studio's most devoted players. Fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic have been posting farewells, memories of favorite storylines, and thanks to the developers who kept the game running for years.

The studio's reach goes well beyond a single title. BioWare is known for story-driven role-playing games, and many players first met the company through Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, or Dragon Age. For a lot of people, its games shaped how they think about choice and narrative in games.

The Old Republic has a particularly loyal following. Players who have spent years in its galaxy often point to its class stories and companion characters as the reason they stuck around. Many of the tributes focus less on the business decision and more on the people and worlds BioWare built.

It is not yet clear from the initial reports what the shutdown means for the game's future or its players' long-running characters.