EA cancels unannounced The Sims project, trims the Skate team and reportedly plans to lay off 400 workers: “We’re the number one publisher in Western HD gaming”
Electronic Arts has announced major organizational changes including the closure of BioWare, cancellation of the next Mass Effect title, and the elimination of approximately 400 jobs—roughly 3% of its global workforce. The announcements were made in an internal memo from CEO David Tinson and Chief Strategy Officer Cam Weber.
In addition to BioWare’s shutdown, EA is pausing development on Project Lotus, a mobile multiplayer Sims game, to refocus resources on Project Evergreen, a new Sims title believed to be a sequel to The Sims 4. The Skate development team is also facing cuts as part of the restructuring.
The company is simultaneously investing in new projects, including a collaboration between Respawn and DICE on what is widely rumored to be Star Wars Battlefront 3, as well as an Iron Man game in development.
BioWare’s Edmonton office will be shuttered as part of the closure. The Skate studio, Full Circle, has already experienced layoffs in February and will face additional staff reductions. EA leadership framed the changes as positioning the company for future success, describing itself as the “number one publisher in Western HD gaming.”
Sources
- EA cancels unannounced The Sims project, trims the Skate team and reportedly plans to lay off 400 workers: “We’re the number one publisher in Western HD gaming”
- EA Halts Development on Mobile Multiplayer Sims Game in Favor of Rumored Sims 4 Sequel
- EA Has Canceled a Project from the ‘Sims’ Franchise
- 400 jobs cut at EA
- ‘Many’ staff gone from Skate studio Full Circle as part of EA layoffs