EA Lays Off Employees, Cancels Respawn Star Wars Shooter?

Yes, EA laid off employees and canceled an unannounced Star Wars shooter from Respawn Entertainment. The layoffs and the cancellation were announced in early 2024 as part of a broader restructuring at Electronic Arts. This article explains what happened, why it happened, and what it means for the affected studios and the Star Wars gaming landscape.

What Exactly Was Announced?

On February 28, 2024, EA publicly stated it would cut approximately 5% of its workforce, which at the time translated to around 670 jobs. In the same announcement, the company confirmed it was canceling a Star Wars first-person shooter that had been in development at Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series. The project was never officially named, but multiple industry reports identified it as a Mandalorian-themed game that had been in early development.

Why Did EA Make These Cuts?

EA framed the layoffs as part of a broader cost-cutting and refocusing effort. In the public statement, CEO Andrew Wilson cited a need to “streamline” operations and focus on the company’s biggest franchises: EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, The Sims, Battlefield, and the Star Wars Jedi series. The cancellation of the shooter was attributed to a strategic decision to prioritize the Jedi series and other established titles rather than invest in a new, unproven project. This move reflects a wider industry trend in 2023-2024, where major publishers like Microsoft, Sony, and Take-Two also announced significant layoffs and project cancellations.

What Was the Cancelled Star Wars Shooter?

According to reporting from outlets like Bloomberg and IGN, the canceled project was a first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe, reportedly featuring a Mandalorian protagonist. It was being developed by Respawn, with Peter Hirschmann (a veteran of the Star Wars Battlefront series) leading the team. The game was said to be in a playable early state, but EA decided it would not meet the company’s financial expectations. The cancellation did not affect Respawn’s other Star Wars projects, specifically the third installment of the Jedi series, which remains in development.

How Did the Layoffs Affect Respawn and Other Studios?

The layoffs were not limited to Respawn. EA’s restructuring impacted several studios, including:

• Respawn Entertainment – Lost an unspecified number of staff, including some on the canceled Star Wars shooter.
• Ridgeline Games – A studio founded to work on the Battlefield single-player campaign, which was closed entirely.
• EA Sports – Cuts in various development and publishing roles.
• Other support teams – Marketing, HR, and quality assurance roles were also reduced.

EA did not provide a studio-by-studio breakdown, but the total was about 5% of its global workforce. The company also said it would reduce office space and pause hiring in some departments.

What Does This Mean for Future Star Wars Games?

Despite the cancellation, EA is still actively making Star Wars games. The Jedi series continues, with the third game officially announced in 2024. EA also has a partnership with Lucasfilm Games that extends through 2025, and it has licensed the Star Wars IP to other publishers, such as Ubisoft (which is developing an open-world game) and Zynga (which released Star Wars: Hunters). The cancellation of the Respawn shooter does not signal an end to EA’s Star Wars involvement, but it does indicate that the company is being more selective about which projects get funded.

What Were the Reactions from the Gaming Community?

Reactions were largely negative, especially among Star Wars fans who had hoped for a Mandalorian-focused shooter. Many pointed out that the game had not been officially announced, so the cancellation was less of a public disappointment and more of a quiet loss. However, industry analysts noted that EA’s decision was financially rational: the shooter would have competed with Battlefield and Apex Legends for player attention, and the Star Wars IP alone does not guarantee commercial success, as seen with Star Wars Battlefront II‘s controversial launch. The layoffs also drew criticism from labor advocates, who argued that companies should avoid over-hiring during boom periods if they are not prepared to sustain those roles.

How to Follow the News and What to Watch For

For readers who want to stay updated on this story, the best sources are reputable gaming news outlets like IGN, GameSpot, and Polygon, as well as official EA press releases. Key things to watch for:

• Official announcements about the next Jedi game’s release date.
• Any new Star Wars titles from other publishers (e.g., Ubisoft’s game).
• EA’s quarterly earnings reports, which often mention restructuring costs.
• Job postings at Respawn, which can hint at future projects.

It is also worth noting that the gaming industry’s current wave of layoffs is not unique to EA; many companies are reassessing their project portfolios in response to rising development costs and changing player habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Star Wars shooter officially announced?

No, the game was never officially announced by EA or Respawn. It was reported by multiple outlets based on internal sources. The cancellation was confirmed by EA in the same announcement as the layoffs, but the company did not provide details about the game’s story or gameplay.

Will the canceled shooter be picked up by another studio?

It is possible, but unlikely. The rights to make Star Wars games are licensed by Lucasfilm, and EA had exclusive rights until 2023, after which other publishers could bid. However, Lucasfilm would need to approve any transfer of the project, and EA has not indicated it is selling the assets. In practice, canceled games rarely get revived by other studios.

How many employees were laid off in total?

EA announced that approximately 5% of its workforce would be laid off. At the time, EA employed about 13,400 people, so the layoffs affected roughly 670 employees. The exact number could vary slightly due to voluntary departures or reassignments.

Did the layoffs affect the development of the next Jedi game?

EA explicitly stated that the Jedi series remains a priority, and the third game is still in development. However, some Respawn staff were laid off, which could impact the timeline, though no delays have been announced.

What other Star Wars games are still in development?

Besides the third Jedi game, Ubisoft is developing an open-world Star Wars game (titled Star Wars Outlaws), and Zynga released Star Wars: Hunters in 2024. Additionally, there are ongoing mobile games like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.

Related

• RAG vs Fine-Tuning: Which Should a Business Use?
• Outlook “Message Has Been Changed” Error: How to Fix It
• Cybersecurity Facts and Stats: What the Numbers Mean

in t | Affected employees | people | 670 | 0 | 100000
out pct | Share of EA workforce | % | t / 13400 * 100 | 1