Electronic Arts Cancels Black Panther Game and Shuts Down Cliffhanger Games
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that it is canceling its highly anticipated Black Panther game and shutting down developer Cliffhanger Games. According to an email sent to staff from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele, obtained by IGN, the company is making these changes in order to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities."
The decision to cancel the Black Panther game and close Cliffhanger Games is part of a larger restructuring effort at EA, which has seen the company lay off hundreds of employees in recent years. In addition to closing Cliffhanger and canceling Black Panther, EA is also laying off some individuals on both its mobile and central teams. While the exact number of affected individuals was not disclosed, IGN understands that the total number of impacted employees is less than the roughly 300 roles cut last month across Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams.
These layoffs and cancellations are part of a broader effort at EA to refocus the company’s resources on its core franchises. According to Miele’s email, EA will be focusing on a small handful of franchises going forward, including Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. The company will also continue to invest in its Iron Man game at Motive and the third Star Wars: Jedi game, as well as maintain its mobile business despite today’s cuts.
In a statement provided to IGN, Miele acknowledged that these decisions are difficult and affect people that EA has worked with and learned from. "We’re doing everything we can to support them — including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles," she said. EA has a history of placing affected employees in other roles within the company, and it is expected that many of those impacted will be able to find new opportunities within EA.
The cancellation of the Black Panther game is particularly notable, as it was part of a three-game deal between EA and Marvel that also included Iron Man and a third, unannounced title. According to IGN, Marvel and EA’s agreement will continue, with Motive Studios leading future Marvel titles. "Our partnership with Marvel remains strong and our multi-title, long-term collaboration continues," Miele said in a statement.
The Black Panther game was being developed by Cliffhanger Games, a studio formed in 2023 with some former developers of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and headed up by Kevin Stephens. Little has been shown of the game since its announcement in 2023, though it was expected to be a single-player, action-adventure, open-world game.
These cuts come on the heels of multiple other rounds of layoffs and cancelations at EA over the last few years and especially in 2025. Just last month, EA laid off roughly 300 individuals, including around 100 at Respawn, while canceling an in-development Titanfall game and another incubation project. Earlier this year, EA restructured BioWare, moving some developers to other projects and laying off others. In 2024, there was a massive restructuring at EA that resulted in 670 workers laid off company-wide, including around two dozen workers at Respawn.
The repeated rounds of layoffs and cancellations have raised concerns among employees about the stability of the company and the impact on morale. EA recently implemented a mandatory return-to-office policy for all workers, a move that some employees have told IGN has left many currently remote workers with concerns about what will happen to their roles long-term.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how EA will navigate the changing landscape. With a focus on its core franchises and a commitment to supporting its employees, EA is hoping to position itself for success in the years to come.
Source: IGN – https://www.ign.com/articles/ea-cancels-black-panther-game-closes-cliffhanger-games
Rebekah Valentine, a senior reporter for IGN, contributed to this article.
