EA Layoffs Impact Respawn Entertainment and Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi Teams

Electronic Arts (EA), one of the gaming industry's leading publishers, has implemented significant staff reductions following underwhelming sales performance from key titles, including Football Club (formerly FIFA) and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The cuts, which were foreshadowed by declining stock prices earlier this year, have reached multiple arms of the EA organization, with its subsidiary Respawn Entertainment particularly affected.

EA started 2024 facing notable challenges, reporting lower-than-expected sales for several major releases available on platforms like Nintendo Switch and other current-generation consoles.

The company initially responded to these setbacks with cost-cutting measures that resulted in around 200 layoffs, predominantly within the EA Experience division.

This team, responsible for customer care operations, bore the brunt of these initial staff reductions.

In an official statement, an EA spokesperson clarified the publisher's position: "As part of our ongoing focus on our long-term strategic initiatives, we have made specific organizational changes to better align our teams and optimize resource allocation to drive future growth." The situation escalated as Respawn Entertainment, one of EA's most successful studios and creators of Apex Legends and the acclaimed Star Wars Jedi series, faced approximately 100 additional layoffs.

These layoffs not only affected staff working on Apex Legends—a flagship free-to-play battle royale title frequently updated and optimized for platforms including the Nintendo Switch—but also team members attached to the beloved Star Wars Jedi games.

Development on two unannounced projects at Respawn was reportedly halted, resulting in further job losses. The cumulative effect of these layoffs is significant, with industry reports citing a total of about 300 employees now affected across various teams.

EA's restructuring comes during a turbulent period for the global gaming sector, where many publishers are examining their portfolios and operational models amid rising development costs and shifting consumer expectations, including the growing prevalence of premium releases priced at $70 or more. Despite these setbacks, both Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi remain important to EA's ongoing portfolio, with regular updates, new content releases, and ongoing community support, especially on versatile platforms like the Nintendo Switch.

As the industry navigates these choppy waters, EA states that its current efforts are designed to ensure sustained growth and innovation going forward. These recent developments highlight the ongoing volatility within the gaming industry, underscoring the necessity for even established publishers and celebrated developers, such as Respawn Entertainment, to adapt rapidly to market realities.

Although the immediate impact is challenging for affected employees, the broader landscape may see renewed focus on efficient development practices and closer alignment with player demand across all major platforms.

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