Electronic Arts (EA) has made a significant announcement to its employees, marking the end of its remote working policies and signaling a full return to office. In an email sent to employees today and viewed by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the benefits of in-person collaboration, stating that it fosters "a kinetic energy that fuels creativity, innovation, and connection, often resulting in unexpected breakthroughs that lead to incredible experiences for our players." He outlined the new definition of "hybrid work" as requiring a "minimum of three days a week in your local office," and noted that "offsite local roles" would be phased out over time.
Further clarification came in a follow-up email from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele, also seen by IGN, where she described the shift from a "decentralized approach to a globally consistent, enterprise-wide work model":
- These changes will not be implemented immediately. Employees are to continue working as directed by their Business Unit until further notice, regardless of their location.
- Transitions to new work models will be communicated with at least a 12-week notice period before implementation, with timing varying by location.
- Hybrid work will require at least three days per week in the local office, in line with Andrew Wilson's EA Action plan.
- A new 30-mile/48-km radius around EA locations will be introduced. Employees within this radius will transition to a Hybrid work model, while those outside will be considered remote unless their role is designated as On Site or Hybrid.
- The Offsite Local work model will be phased out over a period of 3 to 24 months, depending on location.
- Any exceptions to the new work model and future Remote hires will require approval from a CEO Direct.
Anonymous sources within EA told IGN that the announcement has left employees feeling upset and confused. Some highlighted the challenges of long commutes, while others expressed concerns about childcare and medical conditions that had been managed better through remote work. Remote employees outside the 30-mile radius expressed uncertainty about their future roles if unable or unwilling to relocate closer to an EA office.
Remote work has become increasingly common in the video game industry, particularly since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated remote solutions for most AAA companies. As remote work became more entrenched, many employees moved to more affordable cities away from offices, under the assumption that remote work would continue indefinitely.
However, recent trends show other major video game companies like Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, and Activision Blizzard also calling employees back to the office, leading to employee frustration and turnover. These return-to-office mandates have faced criticism and have continued to spread, with EA now joining the list of companies reverting to an in-office model.
This decision comes after EA recently laid off approximately 300 employees across the company, following earlier layoffs at BioWare and the termination of around 670 roles the previous year.
IGN has reached out to EA for comment on these changes.
