EA Restructuring: Hundreds Laid Off, 'Titanfall' Game Canceled Amid Financial Pressure
Electronic Arts (EA) has recently undergone significant restructuring, resulting in hundreds of job losses and the cancellation of ongoing projects. Reports indicate that between 300 and 400 positions were eliminated across various studios, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment, the developer behind popular titles like Titanfall and Apex Legends.
A Heartbreaking Timing for a Narrative Designer
The cuts have had a deeply personal impact on many individuals. Heather Woodward, a narrative designer at Respawn, was reportedly laid off just one day after the character she had spent over a year developing, Sparrow, was introduced in Apex Legends. Woodward expressed both pride and disbelief on Bluesky, noting the dedication that went into the character’s creation, including a music video-style trailer, and then the jarring realization of her job loss. Remarkably, she even received a promotional email about Sparrow after being informed of her layoff – a bitterly ironic situation highlighting the industry's current climate.
Project Cancellations and Realignment
Among the canceled projects is an unannounced Titanfall game, codenamed R7, described as an extraction shooter set within the Titanfall universe. This wasn't the only incubation project shelved; another, which was previously reported on in March, was also terminated. Respawn stated they are refocusing resources on existing franchises, namely Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series, as well as supporting the development of Star Wars: Zero Company by Bit Reactor.
Wider Cuts Beyond Respawn
The layoffs weren’t confined to Respawn. EA’s Experiences team – responsible for customer service, fan care, and marketing – was significantly impacted, though reductions also occurred in other company departments. Approximately 200 additional jobs were cut on top of the 100 at Respawn, bringing the total to around 400.
Internal Shifts and Leadership Changes
In conjunction with the restructuring, Respawn SVP of operations, Daniel Suarez, has been promoted to General Manager of Respawn, reporting directly to Vince Zampella. Zampella will continue overseeing both Respawn and the Battlefield franchise.
Financial Context and Recent Trends
These decisions come following a period of financial underperformance for EA. The company lowered its bookings estimate earlier in the year after its latest soccer game, EA Sports FC 25, failed to meet expectations. Subsidiary BioWare also experienced setbacks with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly fell 50% short of sales forecasts. EA has previously announced workforce reductions, cutting roughly 5% of its staff in February 2024 and approximately 6% in March 2023.
A Pattern of Restructuring
This recent wave of layoffs and project cancellations continues a broader trend at EA over the past several years. In 2023, job cuts occurred at BioWare and Codemasters, followed by a company-wide reduction of 670 workers, including positions at Respawn. BioWare has also undergone restructuring, leading to further layoffs and reassignment of developers. The company employed about 13,700 individuals as of the end of March 2024.
Reasons for Layoffs: A Complex Picture
The reasons behind these workforce reductions appear multifaceted. While game performance is a significant factor, success is no guarantee of job security. Instances cited include layoffs occurring despite successful game launches, studio acquisitions, and even after Microsoft deemed games a "success." Other contributing factors include executive pressures to pursue projects outside of a studio’s core competencies and corporate restructuring efforts focused on flexibility and resource allocation, occasionally juxtaposed with significant executive spending.
EA stated it is committed to supporting affected employees, offering assistance in finding opportunities within the organization and providing transition support.