EA Cancels Star Wars Game and Cuts Jobs

EA Cancels Star Wars Game and Cuts Jobs. Big Changes at Electronic Arts Hey gamers, big news coming your way from Electronic Arts (EA). They’re dropping an upcoming Star Wars game and saying goodbye to about 5% of their workforce – that’s roughly 670 people.

The Scrapped Star Wars Game

So, what’s the deal with the game they’re cancelling? Well, it was supposed to be a first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe. Pretty cool, right? But unfortunately, it was still in the early stages of development.

Why the Layoffs?

EA says they’re “streamlining” things to create better experiences for us fans. But let’s be real, it’s a tough blow for those losing their jobs. This move is part of a trend hitting the gaming industry lately.

Rich Barham, a former bigwig at Blizzard, says the gaming world’s struggling. It’s tough to get funding for new game studios, and tons of folks are getting laid off left and right.

EA’s Been Downsizing

This isn’t the first time EA’s made cuts. Back in December 2023, they announced layoffs at UK developer Codemasters, known for their racing games like F1 23 and EA Sports WRC.

In a letter to staff, EA boss Andrew Wilson said they’re not just axing jobs – they’re also scaling back on making new games. They’re ditching projects that they don’t think will make it in today’s gaming scene.

A Sad Goodbye to Star Wars

In an email to employees, EA entertainment bigwig Laura Miele dropped the bomb about cancelling the Star Wars game being worked on by their subsidiary Respawn Entertainment. Remember them? They’re the ones behind Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which got pretty good reviews.

Laura said it wasn’t an easy decision, but they had to focus on what gamers really want – like more Jedi stuff.

More Industry Layoffs

This isn’t just happening at EA. In January, Microsoft announced they’re cutting 1,900 jobs in their gaming division, including some from Activision-Blizzard. And just the other day, Sony said they’re axing 900 people and closing down their London Studio.

Sarah Stevens from e-volveHR says it’s tough for those affected by the layoffs, and kindness goes a long way in times like these.

The Gaming Industry’s Evolving

Karol Severin, a gaming analyst, says these layoffs are a sign of the times. The gaming world’s maturing, and it’s all about efficiency and staying competitive. But hey, don’t worry – the gaming industry’s still thriving and set to grow even more in the coming years. So, there’s still plenty of gaming goodness to look forward to!