LogInThe publisher announces restructuring and changes its strategy.
Image credit: Respawn, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
On February 28, Electronic Arts published an update on its business plans and future steps the company will take.
As we all know, the game industry has been facing tough times, with many studios closing and lots of people being at risk of losing their jobs. According to EA CEO Andrew Wilson, the company is changing its strategy and introducing a restructuring program to respond to these hardships.
First of all, EA will lay off about 670 employees, which is 5% of the company's workforce. The cuts will involve closing several offices and discontinuing support for certain service games. EA also plans to shift its focus to games based on its IP and will move away from future licensed IPs, which will probably fail to succeed.
Image credit: Nick Gindraux
The development of the Star Wars: Jedi sequel and single-player titles for Black Panther and Iron Man will continue unaffected by the strategic shift. However, Respawn's Star Wars Mandalorian game about a bounty hunter was canceled during its early production stages.
Adding to the mentioned above, Ridgeline Games will be shut down, with some developers transitioning to Ripple Effect to collaborate with DICE and Criterion on the upcoming Battlefield title. Speaking of which, the development of the game seems to be progressing smoothly under the direction of Vince Zampella and Byron Beede.
"I want to extend my appreciation to everyone who has helped contribute to EA's ongoing story. We are a team that leans into our values to lead the future of entertainment, and I look forward to what we will create together. Thank you for all that you do," stated Wilson.
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