The renowned video game company, Electronic Arts (EA) is reducing its workforce by five per cent, equating to approximately 670 employees. Andrew Wilson, CEO, Electronic Arts, stated that this decision aims to streamline the company’s operations to deliver deeper, more connected experiences for fans everywhere.
These job cuts are aligned with EA’s “strategic priorities and growth initiatives.”
This move is part of the company’s ongoing optimisation of its global real-estate footprint to better support the company’s business objectives.
Furthermore, the memo revealed to the staff that the company is discontinuing certain games and ceasing development on future licensed intellectual properties that are not deemed viable in the evolving industry landscape.
As of 2023, EA had around 13,400 employees.
These job cuts follow a similar workforce reduction of six per cent in March of the previous year, that is, 2023, attributed to global macro-economic uncertainties. At the time, the company had communicated to the employees about its increased focus on its portfolio, moving away from projects incongruent with its strategy, reviewing real- estate holdings, and restructuring select teams.
Founded in 1982, EA is renowned for its diverse portfolio of video games across various genres. The company’s sports division, EA Sports, has produced iconic franchises such as FIFA and Madden NFL that dominates the American football-gaming scene.
Beyond sports, EA’s Battlefield series stands out in the first-person shooter genre. Meanwhile, the Need for Speed series offers exciting arcade-style racing experiences. Additionally, EA has ventured into other realms with successful titles such as ‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’, an action-adventure game set in the Star Wars universe.
Meanwhile, another company in the gaming space, Sony, announced plans to lay off approximately 900 employees in its PlayStation division, constituting 8 per cent of its workforce. The US-based PlayStation Studios’ employees associated with Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, as well as its technology, creative and support teams will be impacted.