KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 23 -- It looks like the end of an era for classic role-playing games. Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed that it is shutting down BioWare after more than 30 years in the business.

The move comes as part of a company-wide restructuring effort that will see EA lay off around 400 employees globally.

About 50 of those job cuts will directly affect staff at the developer's Edmonton headquarters.

Three decades of genre-defining hits, now gone

For anyone who grew up playing story-rich titles, BioWare needs no introduction. Founded in 1995, the Canadian outfit essentially set the benchmark for Western RPGs.

Franchises like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the early Baldur's Gate games sha...