EA axes Starbreeze game deal

Swedish outfit Starbreeze is the next studio hit by project cancellations at the hands of struggling publisher EA.

Electronic Arts has several times stated it is cutting back on external developer partnerships as the firm looks to return to profitability.

EA had in the past pledged to work with indie outfit Starbreeze on more than one projects – one of which was codenamed RedLime and was a revival of an old EA IP. The other was said to be based on the Bourne Conspiracy franchise.

Sarbreeze didn’t confirm which project has been canned, though stressed that EA still wants to partner on some projects.

“We will continue to focus only one a big production together with EA,” Starbreeze CEO Johan Kristiansson stated.

“Our relationship with EA is stronger than ever and the aim now is to spend more resources on the game that demonstrated the greatest potential. This game is already in full production.”

No job losses are expected as a result of the cancellation.

Yesterday Develop published a special report on declining dev budgets – with one studio head claiming that risk was “frowned on more than ever”.