In an internal communication disclosed to IGN, Electronic Arts announced the cancellation of the forthcoming Black Panther game and the closure of its development studio, Cliffhanger Games. EA Entertainment president Laura Miele conveyed this information to employees along with news of additional layoffs, though the company did not specify how many positions would be affected.
This marks the third round of layoffs this year, following a previous instance last month that resulted in approximately 300 job losses from Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams. “These decisions are tough,” Miele stated in her email (as reported by IGN). “They impact individuals we’ve collaborated with, learned from, and created meaningful experiences with. We are committed to supporting them, including helping them find new opportunities within EA, where we have successfully placed individuals in different roles.”
EA aims to assist employees who are affected by these layoffs by transferring as many as possible to different departments within the organization. Miele’s message indicated that EA is narrowing its focus to a select few franchises—likely its most lucrative properties—which include titles like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. The company, like many others in the gaming sector, has faced challenges due to the recent economic instability and shifting industry trends.
Despite the cancellation of the Black Panther game, Miele confirmed that the Iron Man game is still under development at Motive Studios. She also reiterated that a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is in the works, and Bioware is actively developing the next entry in the Mass Effect series.
Details on what the Black Panther game would have entailed remain vague, though EA initially envisioned it as an open-world single-player experience. It was part of a three-game agreement that also included Iron Man and another title that has yet to be disclosed. There is currently no information on whether that undisclosed game will be affected by this decision.
The gaming industry has seen substantial layoffs throughout 2025, with many of the preceding years showing similar trends. In response to these challenges, employees have come together to form the United Videogame Workers union, aiming to safeguard worker rights and improve overall working conditions.
