EA is doing another round of layoffs, this time closing an entire studio and cancelling a game. Cliffhanger Studios has been shuttered and its Black Panther game has been cancelled as a result.
Outlined in an email sent to staff by EA's President Laura Miele, this closure and other recent job cuts are being done to “sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.”
While the bulk of the cuts today are at Cliffhanger, some jobs have also been cut in EA's mobile and central teams. IGN asked EA for a a count on how many jobs were affected but EA declined to comment. It is said however that this is less than the roughly 300 cut earlier this year from Respawn.
“These decisions are hard,” Miele wrote. “They affect people we've worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We're doing everything we can to support them "” including finding opportunities within EA, where we've had success helping people land in new roles.”
As mentioned by Miele, EA will attempt to find roles within other EA studios for those affected but it remains to be seen how many will accept a change. Miele mentioned the growth at their Battlefield studios as an opportunity for people to transfer to.
Perhaps most interesting about today's news is the fact that EA and Marvel signed a 3 game deal at the time which included the Black Panther game. What comes of that deal now remains to be seen.
Little was known about the Black Panther game since its announcement in 2023. Will any screenshots or gameplay ever see the light of day? Probably not, but it would be interesting to see.
Focusing On Proven IP
Also as part of Miele's email to staff was a renewed vision for EA moving forward. This vision includes focusing on their main, proven IPs. Specifically mentioned in the email are Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends and Skate.
Additionally she says that they are still moving forward with Motive's Iron Man game as well as various Star Wars games. While the company may be moving away from licensed IPs, these 2 franchises appear to be worth the investment still.
