Trip Hawkins quits Digital Chocolate

EA founder Trip Hawkins has resigned from his role of CEO at digital games developer Digital Chocolate.

Trip described the move as transitioning into a consulting and advisory relationship with Digital Chocolate”, with the company now said to be narrowing its focus” and getting more streamlined”.

The news comes on the same day as EA – the publisher that Hawkins himself founded – reaches its 30th birthday.

Beyond the confirmation of the departure, further news coming out of the studio remains clouded in uncertainty.

TechCrunch reports that the company has laid off up to 180 people across offices in India, San Mateo, Russia and elsewhere” with president Marc Metis said to have stepped up to assume interim CEO control.

Indeed, Digital Chocolate’s Mexico office manager has confirmed that the doors have closed” on that operation.

Digital Chocolate currently boasts around 6.3m monthly active users. Market leader Zynga has 247m MAUs.