Today, EA announced a major company shake-up that will result in roughly 670 individuals, or 5% of its workforce, losing their jobs. As a part of that same reorganization, Respawn’s Star Wars FPS in-development at Respawn is being canceled.
Following CEO Andrew Wilson’s announcement of the cuts today, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele shared a note with staff explaining in more detail what EA’s business priorities would be going forward. This includes her announcement that EA is shutting down an early development Star Wars FPS action game as a part of an ongoing focus on its own owned brands and supporting its existing games.
Not much is known about the Star Wars FPS, but it was rumored to feature a Mandalorian protagonist in some way. The fate of EA’s Star Wars strategy game is also unclear. EA is undertaking the move in part due to what it perceives to be a rapid shift toward large open-world games, massive communities, and live service games.
IGN understands that the team previously working on this game will largely be reassigned to other projects including Apex Legends, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Jedi — for which EA has confirmed a third installment. The Star Wars: Jedi franchise will continue, despite EA’s move to focusing on owned IP, and EA is said to remain focused on its long-standing relationship with Disney/Marvel.
Additionally, EA will be restructuring its Battlefield teams somewhat following the departure of Marcus Lehto announced yesterday. It’s sunsetting Ridgeline Games, folding some of its developers into Ripple Effect. Danny Isaac and Darren White at Criterion will oversee single-player work on the series going forward.
And EA also will sunset a number of mobile games, including the already-announced F1 Mobile Racing and MLB Tap Sports, as well as Kim Kardashian Hollywood and The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth – which was released less than a year ago.
IGN understands that EA intends to reorient its business and development plans to focus on a handful of its biggest franchises, including EA Sports, Apex Legends, Star Wars: Jedi, Iron Man, Black Panther, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Skate, and The Sims. IGN also has learned that a team is still working in pre-production on the next Mass Effect, though Bioware’s current focus remains on Dragon Age.
“It’s not lost on me that these changes are more than words on a page; they directly impact the work you do every day and, in some cases, mean we are eliminating roles and saying goodbye to talented colleagues,” wrote Miele. “I will never lose sight of the human impact of these decisions, and know that change and disruption aren’t easy. In difficult moments, we must remember how important it is to show up for our players and for each other.”
For the financial quarter ending in December of 2023, EA reported net bookings of $2.37 billion (up 7% year over year) and net revenue of $1.945 billion, largely driven by EA Sports FC and Madden. The company’s layoff of roughly 670 individuals is yet another instance of ongoing mass layoffs rocking the entire industry, impacting roughly 10,000 developers in 2023, and approaching 8,000 in just the first two months of 2024. EA itself already laid off 6% of its workforce almost a year ago, with Wilson at the time citing very similar motivations to this year’s. Despite those layoffs, the total headcount prior to today’s cuts is higher (13,400) than it was during the last mass layoff (12,900).
The company’s SEC filing states that the company will take on approximately $125 million to $165 million in costs in connection with these layoffs, including costs related to office space reductions, severance, and costs related to licensor commitments, likely related to the canceled Star Wars game.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to [email protected].
Sarina Tromp
It’s always tough to see layoffs in the gaming industry, especially when it affects highly anticipated games like the Star Wars FPS. As competitive gamers, how do you think this shake-up at EA will impact the competitive gaming scene moving forward? Do you see any potential shifts in the esports landscape because of these changes? Let’s discuss how these industry shifts might influence our favorite games and tournaments.
Estell Mann
As a passionate VR fan, I can’t help but wonder how EA’s recent changes will shake up the gaming world, especially for Star Wars FPS fans. The cancellation of the game and EA’s new priorities signal a shift in the industry.
We might see more focus on popular titles like Apex Legends, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Jedi, potentially leading to more competitive events and updates. However, the layoffs and reorganization at EA could bring uncertainty for some esports players and teams.
Despite the challenges, I believe the competitive gaming scene will adapt and thrive. It’s exciting to think about the new opportunities that may arise for esports fans like us. Let’s stay tuned and see how it all unfolds.
Fabian Mohr
It’s disheartening to see layoffs in the gaming industry, especially affecting projects like the Star Wars FPS. However, this shake-up at EA could open opportunities for indie developers in the competitive gaming scene. With a focus on large open-world and live service games, there may be a demand for innovative indie titles offering fresh experiences.
These changes at EA could lead to a reevaluation of esports, possibly creating a more diverse and inclusive competitive gaming landscape with a variety of games featured in tournaments. While layoffs are tough, this shake-up could bring new opportunities in competitive gaming. It will be exciting to see how these shifts unfold and impact our favorite games and tournaments in the future.
TacticianPrime89
Hey @TacticianPrime, curious to hear your take on EA’s recent layoffs and cancellations and how they might shake up the esports world. Any predictions on how these changes will influence our favorite games and tournaments? Let’s discuss the potential impacts together.
EpicStrategist
The recent changes at EA, including the cancellation of the Star Wars FPS, could have a big impact on competitive gaming. With a focus on open-world and live service games, we might see more of these types of games in esports. This shift could lead to different games being featured in tournaments as developers prioritize these genres.
EA’s restructuring and focus on major franchises could also change the esports scene, with popular titles like Apex Legends, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Jedi getting more support. This could create new opportunities for competitive play in these games.
While layoffs and reorganizations are tough, it’s important to consider how these changes will shape competitive gaming. It will be interesting to see how the industry adapts and how it will affect our favorite games and tournaments in the future.
ShadowReaper
Hey @Sarina Tromp, the recent changes at EA and the cancellation of the Star Wars FPS game could shake up the competitive gaming scene. With a shift in focus to existing franchises like Apex Legends, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Jedi, we may see more investment in esports tournaments for these games. However, the loss of new IPs like the Star Wars game could mean missed opportunities for innovative gameplay experiences. It’ll be interesting to see how these changes impact the future of esports.