EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Closes Cliffhanger

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced its third round of layoffs this year, signaling a continued strategic shift within the company. This latest restructuring includes the cancellation of the highly anticipated Black Panther video game and the immediate closure of its development studio, Cliffhanger Games.

These changes are part of a broader effort by EA to “sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities,” according to an internal email from Laura Miele, President of EA Entertainment.

Impact of the Latest Cuts

Beyond the direct impact on Cliffhanger Games, this recent wave of layoffs also affects individuals across EA’s mobile and central teams. While EA has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees, it is understood that this round involves fewer roles than the roughly 300 positions cut last month from Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams.

Supporting Affected Employees

Laura Miele acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions in her email to staff, stating, “They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with.” She assured employees that EA is committed to supporting those impacted. This includes actively exploring opportunities for them within other parts of the company, a strategy EA has employed in previous layoff rounds.

Despite continuous team reductions, EA’s overall headcount appears to be increasing. Game File reported that EA employed 800 more people in March 2025 compared to the same time in 2024. This suggests a strategic reallocation of resources and talent rather than an overall company shrinkage.

EA’s Shifting Strategic Focus

These changes are driven by EA’s commitment to prioritizing a select group of its most promising franchises.

Core Franchise Investment

Going forward, EA will sharpen its focus on a core set of its established intellectual properties. These key franchises include:

Battlefield
The Sims
Skate
Apex Legends

Miele’s communication also confirmed continued investment in other significant projects. The Iron Man game at Motive Studios and the third Star Wars: Jedi game will continue development. Additionally, EA plans to maintain its mobile business despite the current cuts. BioWare, another prominent EA studio, is continuing its work on the next Mass Effect title.

Moving Away from Certain Licensed IP

Last year, EA CEO Andrew Wilson signaled a shift in strategy. He announced that the company would be “moving away from development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry.” While the Black Panther game falls under this category, the ongoing partnership with Marvel for other titles remains strong.

Unaffected Divisions

Notably, EA Sports, a major division responsible for popular sports franchises like Madden and EA Sports FC, is a separate entity within the company. For now, the sports division remains unaffected by these recent changes.

The Canceled Black Panther Game

The Black Panther game, initially announced in 2023, was being developed by the newly formed Cliffhanger Games. This studio was established in 2023 and comprised experienced developers, including some veterans from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Kevin Stephens, who previously led Monolith Productions, was at its helm.

Little public information about the Black Panther game had been released since its announcement. However, a job listing confirmed it was intended to be a single-player, action-adventure, open-world game. The decision to cancel the game highlights EA’s renewed focus on internal priorities.

A Pattern of Restructuring and Layoffs

This round of cuts is not an isolated event. EA has undertaken multiple rounds of layoffs and project cancellations over the past few years, with 2025 being particularly active.

Recent Layoff History

Last Month: Approximately 300 individuals were laid off, including around 100 at Respawn Entertainment. This round also saw the cancellation of an in-development Titanfall game and another incubation project.
Earlier in 2025: EA restructured BioWare, resulting in some developers being reassigned to other projects and others facing layoffs.
2024: A significant company-wide restructuring led to 670 workers being laid off, including about two dozen at Respawn.
2023: Fifty jobs were cut at BioWare, and an unknown number at Codemasters.

These consistent changes reflect a dynamic and challenging period within the video game industry. Amidst these changes, EA recently implemented a mandatory return-to-office policy for all employees. This move has raised concerns among some remote workers about the long-term security of their roles.

When asked for further details on the exact number of affected employees, the reasons for repeated cuts, or the expectation of future layoffs, EA referred inquiries back to Laura Miele’s internal email, indicating no further public comment at this time. Marvel has also not yet provided a statement regarding the cancellation.