EA has canceled its Black Panther game and shut down Cliffhanger Games, with reports now claiming 400 more layoffs, and the closure of Codemasters could be next.
Electronic Arts (EA) is back in the headlines, and not for reasons most gamers want to hear. According to a new report from IGN, EA has officially canceled its highly anticipated Black Panther game and is shutting down Cliffhanger Games, the studio behind the project. This comes as part of a wider shakeup within the company, which also includes layoffs across several departments.
IGN’s report explains that EA is making these changes to sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.” Alongside the closure of Cliffhanger Games and the cancellation of Black Panther, the company has let go of more staff in its mobile and central teams.
While EA hasn’t shared an exact number, these cuts come just after another major round of layoffs last month, which saw about 300 jobs lost across Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams.
More Layoffs at EA and Codemasters Headquarters Shutdown Reportedly Coming
However, that may only be the start. Shortly after IGN’s report, well-known industry insider Extas1s shared on X (Twitter) that even bigger changes could be on the way for EA. According to Extas1s, the cancellation of Black Panther isn’t the only major move coming. He claims that EA is preparing for around 400 additional layoffs on top of the recent cuts.
Most notably, Extas1s states that EA is planning the complete closure of Codemasters’ main headquarters. Codemasters, famous for its F1 and Dirt racing franchises, has been a major force in racing games for decades.
Extas1s reports that the developers from the soon-to-be-closed Codemasters headquarters will be moved over to EA Sports (F1) and to help develop a brand new Need for Speed title, which is already underway.
Here’s the direct quote from Extas1s’ post:
“I have learned that around 400 more layoffs are coming at EA, the complete closure of the main Codemasters headquarters studio, and that those developers will be integrated into EA Sports (F1) and into a new Need For Speed that is already in development.“
As of now, none of these claims have been confirmed by EA or Codemasters, and the companies haven’t commented further. Like with any insider report, it’s smart to take everything with a grain of salt until there’s an official announcement.
What are your thoughts on these major changes at EA? Let us know in the comments below!
