If you're a fan of Electronic Arts, recent news might come as a surprise. IGN has learned that EA is canceling its anticipated Black Panther game and shuttering the studio behind it—Cliffhanger Games. In an internal email, EA Entertainment President Laura Miele explained these changes are part of a broader strategy to sharpen the company’s focus and channel resources into growth opportunities with the highest potential.
This decision includes not only the closure of Cliffhanger Games but also the cancellation of the highly-anticipated Black Panther project. Alongside this, EA is conducting layoffs among its mobile and central teams. While EA declined to share the exact number of affected employees, sources suggest the total is lower than the approximately 300 roles cut last month across Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams, though the precise margin remains unclear.
Miele acknowledged the difficulty of these choices in her email, emphasizing the impact on valued colleagues. She assured efforts are underway to support displaced employees, including internal placements within EA, where past layoffs have successfully led to new roles for many.
Moving forward, EA is narrowing its focus to a select group of franchises: Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. Despite the current cuts, Miele confirmed continued investment in Iron Man at Motive Studios and the third Star Wars: Jedi installment. The company also plans to sustain its mobile gaming initiatives and maintain progress on the next Mass Effect title from BioWare. Last year, CEO Andrew Wilson announced EA would shift away from developing licensed IPs unless they align with future industry trends.
It’s worth noting that EA Sports remains unaffected by these changes, as it operates independently from EA Entertainment. IGN understands that the ongoing partnership with Marvel for the Black Panther game was part of a three-title deal, which also included Iron Man and an undisclosed third title. Cliffhanger Games, formed in 2023 with talent from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, was led by Kevin Stephens.
These layoffs follow several rounds of workforce reductions and canceled projects at EA over the past few years. Just last month, approximately 300 employees were let go, including around 100 from Respawn, along with the cancellation of a Titanfall game and another incubation project. Earlier this year, BioWare underwent restructuring, with some developers reassigned and others laid off. In 2024, EA conducted a major overhaul resulting in 670 layoffs, including at Respawn. Additionally, 50 positions were cut at BioWare in 2023, along with an undisclosed number at Codemasters.
Recently, EA mandated a return-to-office policy for all employees, prompting concerns among remote workers about job security in the long term. When asked for further details regarding the layoffs, reasons behind them, or expectations for additional cuts, EA directed IGN back to Miele’s email. As of now, Marvel has not commented on the matter.
