Ghost Games UK hit with layoffs – report

The Guildford, Surrey branch of the recently rebranded EA Gothenburg studio has suffered an unspecified number of layoffs, and development of an unannounced Need for Speed title has reportedly been shelved.

Polygon cites multiple sources who claim EA let go of contractors at the UK office of the studio now called Ghost Games, and gave full-time employees the choice of accepting a severance package or to continue working in the office to support Havana – Visceral Games’ rumoured police-themed Battlefield title.

The report arrives following EA’s recent announcement regarding the exit of Criterion Games founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry – Criterion was in charge of Need for Speed for a short time before Ghost Games took over responsibility for the franchise.

No official word on where this leaves the long-running racing series, though EA did state that the company has "entered a consultation period for some positions in our Ghost Games U.K. studio."