On Wednesday, Electronic Arts announced it was closing beloved RPG studio BioWare and canceling an in-development Mass Effect sequel. It’s a reminder that, despite EA being owned by new people, the company’s long-running tradition of buying and closing down game studios and publishers, often after gutting them and treating them poorly for years before dealing the final blow, will continue.

Since its founding in 1982, Electronic Arts (the winner of the “Worst Company in America” award in 2012 and 2013 ) has only really done one thing consistently. Releasing and publishing successful, popular video games? Nope. Making good decisions or protecting its employees? Nah. It’s rarely been consistent at doing any of that stuff. The one thing EA seems capable of doing regardless of the year or the people in charge is buying and then closing studios . It is really good at doing that.…