Electronic Art’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, announced that there will be 6% layoff stating in a letter, “We are moving away from projects that do not contribute to our strategy, reviewing our real estate footprint, and restructuring some of our teams.” However, this isn’t the first layoff this year. On March 1, EA reportedly laid off over 200 Apex Legends testers via zoom call.
“Our business is gaining momentum as we continue to deliver high-quality games and amazing content across some of the largest, most beloved franchises in the world. At the heart of global football culture, EA SPORTS FIFA 23 is pacing to be the biggest title in franchise history. Apex Legends’ performance is strong on the heels of a memorable 4th anniversary event, and The Sims is fueling imagination and engagement across its passionate community,” said Wilson.
Wilson continues to state how EA’s priority is to “entertain the masses” and “amplifying the power of community in and around our games with social and creator tools” to create a bigger impact in the gaming community. However, EA is not leaving the workers high and dry. Wilson had stated that the decision was communicated earlier this year and that they will continue through the next year. Wilson continues, “Where we can, we are providing opportunities for our colleagues to transition onto other projects. Where that’s not possible, we are providing severance pay and additional benefits such as health care and career transition services.
Looking forward, we are focused on writing our next great chapter by bringing more amazing games to more people around the world — inspiring them to build community, participate in shared fandom, and have joyful experiences. The future of entertainment is interactive, and no team is better equipped to lead this transformation than us.”
This year has seen many tech companies like Twitch and Microsoft with massive layoffs.