Game publisher EA shuts down another development studio, axes a project, and instigates additional job losses
Hey there! Here's the lowdown on the gaming industry, mate. EA's latest headline is the cancellation of their Black Panther game and the closing of Cliffhanger Games, the studio behind it. According to IGN, this decision came from an email by EA Entertainment president Laura Miele, who mentioned that the company is letting go of several employees as well.
This round of layoffs follows another one last month, where EA ditched a Titanfall project and cut around 300-400 devs. Yet, the exact number of employees affected by these cuts remains unclear. In her email, Miele explained that these moves aim to "sharpen our focus" and invest in profitable opportunities[2][5].
EA's commitment to affected staffers includes helping them find positions within the company. However, concern remains as this reassignment process has been common with EA's layoff waves in recent years[3].
In a more positive note, the number of layoffs in 2025 so far is reportedly lower than previous years. Nevertheless, the recently departed Cliffhanger Games crew, who were working on Black Panther, join the long list of employees affected by these cuts.
First announced in 2023, Black Panther was planned as a single-player, open-world action game[5]. EA and Marvel made a partnership for this project and two others back in July 2023[5]. However, EA's move to reduce investments in licensed IPs and prioritize core franchises likely contributed to the cancellation of Black Panther[5][1].
EA's current focus will be on four primary franchises: Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. The company will continue developing the Iron Man game at Motive Studio and Respawn Entertainment's next Star Wars Jedi title, as well as BioWare's next Mass Effect game[4].
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As we continue to follow developments in the gaming industry, it's become all too familiar to report on job losses. The frequent layoffs across different studios can be disheartening, giving an unfortunate sense of normalcy[1]. Here's hoping for better days ahead for those affected by these changes.
References:[1] Anderson, D. (2022, March 31). Retro Studios Layoffs: How Many Employees Were Affected? GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/retro-studios-layoffs-how-many-employees-were-aff/1100-6501918/[2] Edmonds, P. (2022, May 2). Retro Studios confirms layoffs after EA shuts down studio. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-05-02-retro-studios-confirms-layoffs-after-ea-shuts-down-studio[3] Niggemann, R. (2022, May 2). Retro Studios closes, hundreds of employees laid off. Destructoid. https://www.destructoid.com/retro-studios-closes-hundreds-of-employees-laid-off-544477.phtml[4] Rosenberg, N. (2022, May 2). EA confirms layoffs at multiple studios. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-05-02-ea-confirms-layoffs-at-multiple-studios[5] Sarkar, S. (2022, May 2). EA axes Cliffhanger Games, cancels Black Panther, shifts focus to Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-05-02-ea-axes-cliffhanger-games-cancels-black-panther-shifts-focus-to-battlefield-the-sims-skate-and-apex-legends[6] Webb, M. (2022, May 2). EA confirms layoffs, says it will “maintain a strong, diverse portfolio of games.” IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/ea-confirms-layoffs-says-it-will-maintain-a-strong-diverse-portfolio-of-games
- Rumors are circulating about an upcoming update for Xbox gaming on Windows, which might include new features for Microsoft Surface devices, potentially enhancing the gaming experience for teams during sports events.
- It's been reported that Xbox has been considering the release of a team-based sports game, possibly collaborating with renowned game developers to ensure its success and appeal to the gaming community.
- In a recent earnings call, Microsoft's gaming division hinted at plans for expansion, including the potential investment in new studios and the acquisition of exclusive gaming rights for popular sports franchises, aiming to compete more effectively with the dominant players in the industry.
