- EA reportedly plans to lay off 400 employees.
- Codemasters will also shut down its main headquarters and relocate its workers to other projects, such as EA Sports F1 and a new Need for Speed title.
- Going forward, the publisher will streamline its focus on just a handful of franchises.
Update: An EA spokesperson has now reached out to clarify the situation regarding the shutdown of Codemasters’ main headquarters. They stated:
The speculation around Codemasters is entirely unfounded and inaccurate
The original report follows:
Just recently, one of the most disappointing news of this year struck that EA has decided to cancel the Black Panther game and shut down Cliffhanger Studios.
This may not be the last we hear from EA. A new report reveals that the publisher will soon lay off approximately 400 employees, including closing Codemasters’ main headquarters.
Why it matters: Layoffs are never a good sign, and the gaming industry is in its worst state ever despite its tremendous growth over the past few years.
Extas1s, a reputable insider with a solid track record of verified information, recently made this claim. According to the insider, the employees affected by the Codemaster’s headquarters shutdown will be transferred to EA Sports F1 and a new Need For Speed game that is currently under development.
For those unfamiliar, Codemasters is one of the oldest studios under EA and is credited with developing titles like Dirt and Grid games. It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything major from the studio, and unfortunately, we may never get to do it again.
This will be EA’s second round of layoffs this year, and it seems that no studio is immune to such practices. Just recently, Respawn Entertainment, one of the most successful studios under EA, faced a tremendous layoff that even resulted in the cancellation of an extraction-based Titanfall game.
EA Entertainment president Laura Miele said the company will streamline its focus to just a handful of franchises. As such, only expect focus on IPs like Battlefield, Sims, and Apex Legends.
This also dismisses the case of a new Star Wars Battlefront game. The campaign for a threequel has gathered over 10k signatures, but it seems that the corporate side is too blind to see what fans want and will instead do what they think is best, just as they did with Dragon Age Veilguard.
What are your thoughts on this upcoming round of layoffs? Let us know in the comments below or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
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