EA Cancels Single-Player Black Panther Game and Closes Studio, Resulting in Layoffs
Electronic Arts (EA) has reportedly cancelled its single-player Black Panther game and closed the studio behind it, Cliffhanger Games, resulting in an unspecified number of layoffs. According to an email seen by IGN, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele shared the news with staff, stating that the cancellation and studio closure would help the publisher "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities."
The news was first reported by IGN, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, EA declined to comment on the number of employees impacted by the layoffs, but it is understood that fewer individuals will be affected compared to the 300 job cuts recently made across Respawn and several other teams. Miele wrote in the email, "These decisions are hard. They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. 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."
The Black Panther game was announced in 2023, with EA confirming that it would be handled by its then-new Cliffhanger Games studio in collaboration with Marvel Games. The game was described as a third-person title set in an "expansive and reactive" version of Wakanda, and was still "early in development" at the time. A job listing in 2024 indicated that the game would be an open-world title. However, it appears that the project has been cancelled, with Miele suggesting that EA will now focus on a small number of its own franchises, specifically Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends, as well as Bioware’s next Mass Effect.
The cancellation of the Black Panther game follows comments made by EA CEO Andrew Wilson last year, stating that the publisher would be moving away from "future licensed IP". While Miele insisted that EA will continue to invest in developer Motive’s Iron Man project and Respawn’s third Star Wars: Jedi game, it appears that the publisher is shifting its focus towards its own intellectual properties. This move is likely to be seen as a strategic decision to concentrate on core franchises and reduce reliance on licensed IPs.
In addition to the Black Panther game cancellation, EA has also recently announced that it was ending its licensing partnership with the World Rally Championship and "pausing development" on all future rally games – a move which resulted in an undisclosed number of additional layoffs at Codemasters. Furthermore, a second Black Panther project – publisher Skydance Games’ Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, which is being penned by Uncharted writer Amy Hennig – was recently delayed into next year.
The closure of Cliffhanger Games and the cancellation of the Black Panther game are the latest in a series of restructuring efforts by EA. The publisher has been undergoing significant changes in recent months, with a focus on streamlining its operations and concentrating on core franchises. As Miele stated, "We’re doing everything we can to support [affected employees] – including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles." The impact of these changes on the gaming industry remains to be seen, but it is clear that EA is taking significant steps to reshape its business.
Source: Eurogamer reports that EA has confirmed the cancellation of its Black Panther game and closure of Cliffhanger Games, citing an email from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele.
