Job losses on the way at EA

MCV sister site

Develop

reports that some staff at EA’s studios around the world are facing redundancy, in what the publisher is calling a small-scale and routine move that comes as production on the year’s games winds down.

Develop understands that staff at the company’s studios – including its big UK base in Guildford – were told yesterday that jobs were at risk.

When contacted, a spokesperson for EA explained: "This is a small and somewhat routine event for this time of the year when many of our titles are finished and being shipped. It includes a small number of roles across studio, publishing and corporate divisions."

EA was not, however, able to confirm the total percentage of its workforce that would be lost.

Reports on Arsetechnica and Destructoid say leaked emails reveal a company-wide restructuring is on the cards, with Mythic and Redwood Shores staff also confirming looming layoffs.

A restructuring was already widely known: earlier this year EA CEO John Riccitiello announced a revamp of the company, dividing it into four labels. At the time, however, EA said there would be a period of adjustment to the structural changes – suggesting this crop of job losses is also related to the corporate overhaul as well as the wind-down of this quarter’s projects.

Just two weeks ago, the publisher acquired the 800-strong workforces of studios BioWare and Pandemic in the biggest games development acquisition the industry has seen (some $820m) giving it new studios in California, USA, Canada and Australia.