The utterly relentless spate of games industry layoffs is continuing to wreak havoc this week with another major publisher announcing a mass firing amid a shift in focus.
This time it’s EA, the global giant that publishes some of the most popular games in the world, which has announced it’s letting go of around 670 staff (or about 5% of its total workforce).
CEO Andrew Wilson’s email to staff on the decision cites “accelerating industry transformation where player needs and motivations have changed significantly” and players that are “increasingly engaging with the largest IP” as some of the reasons for the company doubling down on its largest owned properties and titles with strong communities, while sunsetting existing titles and moving away from future licensed IP.
To accommodate these changes, layoffs will supposedly effect mostly support teams while developers will be moved to other teams where possible, with the process expected to be completed around April. Wilson’s email isn’t clear on which titles and teams are being shuttered, nor does it elaborate on what licensed IP it’s moving away from – the company has multiple Star Wars games in development as well as two Marvel titles.
Wilson’s full email reads:
“Team,
“We are entertaining, inspiring, and connecting more people with more content and deeper experiences than ever before. Over the last year, we have organised our company to further empower our creative leaders to deliver our strategic priorities of entertaining massive online communities, telling blockbuster stories, and harnessing the power of community in and around our games. These actions have positioned us to build bigger, bolder experiences for hundreds of millions of players and fans around the world.
“We are also leading through an accelerating industry transformation where player needs and motivations have changed significantly. Fans are increasingly engaging with the largest IP, and looking to us for broader experiences where they can play, watch, create content, and forge deeper connections. Our industry exists at the cutting edge of entertainment, and in today’s dynamic environment, we are advancing the way we work and continuing to evolve our business.
“As a company full of creators and storytellers, we believe in the value of teams innovating together, and continue to learn and adopt new ways of collaborating to grow and serve our global communities. Given how and where we are working, we are continuing to optimise our global real estate footprint to best support our business. We are also sunsetting games and moving away from development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry. This greater focus allows us to drive creativity, accelerate innovation, and double down on our biggest opportunities — including our owned IP, sports, and massive online communities — to deliver the entertainment players want today and tomorrow. Lastly, we are streamlining our company operations to deliver deeper, more connected experiences for fans everywhere that build community, shape culture, and grow fandom.
“In this time of change, we expect these decisions to impact approximately 5 percent of our workforce. I understand this will create uncertainty and be challenging for many who have worked with such dedication and passion and have made important contributions to our company. While not every team will be impacted, this is the hardest part of these changes, and we have deeply considered every option to try and limit impacts to our teams. Our primary goal is to provide team members with opportunities to find new roles and paths to transition onto other projects. Where that’s not possible, we will support and work with each colleague with the utmost attention, care, and respect. Communicating these impacts has already begun and will be largely completed by early next quarter.
“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.”
