EA Lays Off 6% Of Its Staff: “We Are Moving Away From Projects That Do Not Contribute To Our Strategy”
Ryan Pearson
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Electronic Arts announces 6% of employees laid off as part of restructuring, revealing the company is swaying away from projects they no longer deem valuable.
Goldshard snarls at a player via Wild Hearts (2023), Electronic Arts
On March 29th, EA CEO Andrew Wilson issued a note to staff. He insisted EA “is operating from a position of strength,” and discussed some of EA’s priorities to aid growth from now on. These included creating games with large communities, capitalizing on that with tools for socializing and creators, and “creating blockbuster interactive storytelling.”
However, this note also came with discussion of the layoffs, which staff had known of earlier this quarter. “As we drive greater focus across our portfolio, we are moving away from projects that do not contribute to our strategy, reviewing our real estate footprint, and restructuring some of our teams,” Wilson explained.
Cars speed away from police, leaving cartoon dust in their wake via Need for Speed Unbound (2022), Electronic Arts
“This is the most difficult part, and we are working through the process with the utmost care and respect,” Wilson emphasized. “Where we can, we are providing opportunities for our colleagues to transition onto other projects. Where that’s not possible, we are providing severance pay and additional benefits such as health care and career transition services.”
Wilson explained that EA would keep staff that will be laid off informed into the start of the next fiscal year beginning on April 1st.
EA’s Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement revealed, “As of March 31, 2022, we had approximately 12,900 employees (including six incumbent NEOs).” With 6% of staff being laid off, that would be an estimated 775 people.
BD-1 and Cal flee aboard the Stinger Mantis via Star Wars Jedi Survivor (2023), EA
In late February, EA had already laid off 200 QA testers. Those testers had predominantly worked on Apex Legends, with sources claiming all the testers had been suddenly let go.
Troops storm the building as an APC smashes through a wall via Battlefield 2042 (2021), Electronic Arts
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