Electronic Arts (EA), facing recent challenges, has once again sent shockwaves through the gaming industry. In its third round of layoffs this year, the publisher not only canceled the highly anticipated single-player "Black Panther" game but also shut down its internal studio, Cliffhanger Games, which was developing the title. 
According to IGN, EA Entertainment President Laura Miele sent an internal email to employees, stating that the layoffs and organizational restructuring were aimed at "focusing on the business areas with the greatest growth potential." She emphasized that the company would reallocate resources to areas promising the highest returns.
The exact number of employees affected in this latest round of layoffs has not been disclosed, but it is reportedly fewer than the 300 to 400 people laid off in April. In addition to all Cliffhanger Games employees being impacted, some personnel from EA's mobile gaming division and central support teams were also affected.
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"These decisions are incredibly difficult because they impact colleagues with whom we have worked, learned, and grown," Miele wrote in the letter. She added that EA was "doing our best to support these colleagues, including helping them transition to new roles within EA, where we have had success in the past."
The "Black Panther" game was originally announced in January 2023, with the newly formed Cliffhanger Games tasked with its development. It was envisioned as a narrative-driven, third-person single-player game. At the time, officials stated that players would have more control than in traditional narrative games, hinting at potential open-world elements. However, before any project details were fully revealed, the title has now been canceled.
With the cancellation of "Black Panther" and the closure of Cliffhanger Games, questions are once again being raised about EA's commitment to single-player games in recent years, leaving many players uneasy about the company's future gaming strategy.
via： GamesRadar