Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts business and news from across the web.
Opinion: Everything hurts and no one knows when the pain will endThe article discusses the ongoing financial struggles and mass layoffs within the game industry, attributing them to a combination of economic factors, executive mismanagement, and alleged abuses of power. The author, Bryant Francis, shares personal coping mechanisms for dealing with the constant stream of bad news and emphasizes the need for the industry to learn from past mistakes.
Rockstar Games staff push for union recognition ahead of GTA VI launchEmployees at Rockstar Games are seeking official union recognition through the IWGB Game Workers Union ahead of the Grand Theft Auto VI launch. This effort follows alleged dismissals of union members in October 2025, which the union is challenging as union-busting. Union recognition would provide formal collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for employees.
Dragon Age: Origins is 'Unsupported' on Steam Deck, but it runs incredibly and it's currently only $3Despite being officially 'Unsupported' on the Steam Deck, Dragon Age: Origins runs exceptionally well on the handheld PC. The article details how to overcome initial launcher issues, adjust graphics settings for native resolution, and utilize community-created gamepad layouts to achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience. The author concludes that the game is perfectly playable and enjoyable on the Steam Deck, requiring less tinkering than some 'Playable' rated titles.
Cyberpunk 2 lead says "some days I feel our industry is imploding" as Destiny 2 studio Bungie is hit with mass layoffs: "Teams and game projects are getting slaughtered"Cyberpunk 2077 associate game director Paweł Sasko expressed concern over the state of the video game industry, stating it feels like it's "imploding" due to frequent layoffs and project cancellations. This sentiment comes as Bungie, the studio behind Destiny 2, experienced significant layoffs, with other studios like Xbox Game Studios and Electronic Arts also reportedly cutting staff. CD Projekt Red, which itself had layoffs in 2023, is actively hiring for projects including The Witcher 4 and a new IP.
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for June 29 to July 3Xbox has announced a slate of new games arriving on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Game Pass between June 29 and July 3. Titles include RV There Yet?, Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains, EA SPORTS College Football 27, and many more indie and AA releases.
Battlefield 6 is altering its long-range gunplay to feel more like Battlefield 4Battlefield Studios is overhauling the gunplay in Battlefield 6 to feel more like Battlefield 4, with changes set to arrive on June 30th. The update focuses on making recoil more predictable and adjusting muzzle velocity to discourage full-auto fire at range. Damage multipliers are also being tweaked to differentiate between body zones, aiming to slightly reduce the average time-to-kill while maintaining close-quarters effectiveness.
F1 25: 2026 Season Pack Interview – New Content, Gameplay Changes, Platform Improvements, And MoreCodemasters and Electronic Arts discuss the decision to release a 2026 Season Pack for F1 25 instead of a traditional F1 26 title, focusing on the evolving Formula 1 landscape and new regulations. The pack introduces significant gameplay changes, including active aerodynamics and a revised Overtake Mode, alongside new teams like Audi and Cadillac, and the Madrid street circuit. The developers also detail platform-specific improvements for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Battlefield 6 Dives Into Its Gunplay in First Chapter of New Video SeriesElectronic Arts is releasing a new video series detailing gameplay updates for Battlefield 6, focusing on gunplay refinements. The updates include a more realistic recoil system, adjustments to weapon feel, and changes to time-to-kill based on hitting different body parts. These changes aim to enhance the immersive combat experience and will undergo testing before full implementation.
EA Sports UFC 6 Guide – New Submission SystemThis guide for EA Sports UFC 6 details the new submission system, focusing on gameplay mechanics like stamina depletion, grapple advantage, and transition denial. It provides tips for beginners on how to master these elements to improve their chances of winning matches, especially in online play.
1 month after launch, my favorite indie Sims 4 competitor has sold 1 million copies – and only 170 "naked…Paralives, an indie life simulation game, has sold over one million copies one month after its launch. The developer, Paralives Studio, shared that the game has an average of 80,000 daily players and has received significant player feedback and mod submissions. The studio also highlighted amusing statistics, including a bug that caused a nude character named Charlie to appear in player households.
EA hit with third round of layoffs this yearElectronic Arts has conducted its third round of layoffs this year, impacting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. This follows previous staff reductions affecting developers on "Skate" and "Battlefield 6," and comes after EA's acquisition by an investor consortium last September. The company has also shed staff and studios over multiple years, including layoffs at "Apex Legends," Codemasters, BioWare, and the closure of Cliffhanger Games.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s $80 Price Won’t Change Current $70 Baseline for AAA Games, Say AnalystsIndustry analysts suggest that Grand Theft Auto 6's $80 price point will not immediately shift the AAA game baseline but may lead to more pricing variance. While some marquee titles might adopt higher prices, many games will likely stick to the $70 baseline due to consumer sensitivity and the need to 'earn' higher prices through established franchise value. Companies like Nintendo and Rockstar Games have unique pricing power due to their strong brand recognition and perceived value.
Tim Sweeney says only hope for new games is to 'connect to economies of other games'Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney believes that connecting virtual economies between different games is the only way for new titles to succeed against established giants like Fortnite and Roblox. He suggests that enabling players to transfer in-game items and investments across games, even those from different companies, will reinvigorate the market and drive player engagement towards in-game purchases over buying full games.- MMO Business Roundup: EA’s latest layoffs, Overwatch’s pricy cosmetics, and GAAS nuanceThis business roundup covers recent events in the MMO industry, including layoffs at Electronic Arts affecting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. Former Path of Exile developer Chris Wilson shared nuanced views on live service games, acknowledging drawbacks like problematic monetization and player demands. Additionally, Overwatch's high-priced Nyan Cafe cosmetic skins have drawn community backlash.
Evening Reading - June 23, 2026This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming industry happenings, including Tencent's reported exits from Japanese studios, EA layoffs, and new game announcements like Montabi and Tanuki: Pon's Summer. It also touches on the upcoming EVO 2026 fighting game tournament and reflections on Sonic's 35th birthday and the legacy of 3D graphics in gaming.- AI Yi-Yi!Electronic Arts reports that Artificial Intelligence is accelerating prototyping and fostering creativity within its studios. The article also briefly mentions a Google AI deal impacting A24 and Oracle's AI initiatives.
- Massively OP Podcast Episode 570: Card Wars 3The Massively OP Podcast episode 570 covers various MMO industry news, including Guild Wars' card game, a potential ArcheAge revival, and Richard Garriott's interest in Ultima. Discussions also touch on World of Warcraft's upcoming patch, Dungeons and Dragons Online's new race, and EverQuest Legends pre-orders.
EA Exec Says There Has Been A “Real Rise Of Creativity” After Developers Embraced AIElectronic Arts executive Laura Miele stated that the company has seen a "real rise of creativity" due to developers embracing AI tools for tedious tasks. Miele believes AI helps remove friction from development pipelines, leading to faster prototyping and implementation of creative ideas. This perspective contrasts with some developer sentiment, as a GDC study indicated a growing belief that generative AI is harming the games industry.
EA exec says AI has helped drive 'a real rise of creativity' at its studiosElectronic Arts president Laura Miele believes artificial intelligence is fostering a significant increase in creativity within the company's studios by automating tedious tasks and speeding up development. She highlighted faster prototyping and more efficient creative discussions as key benefits. The article also touches on EA's broader embrace of generative AI and employee concerns regarding its impact on layoffs.
EA reportedly lays off customer service, recruitment & safety staff ahead of $55 billion Saudi saleElectronic Arts has reportedly conducted layoffs affecting customer service, recruitment, trust and safety, and IT teams in remote roles and its Hyderabad, India office. These cuts are occurring as EA nears its planned $55 billion sale to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. The company cited a need to adapt to changing fan needs as the reason for the proposed role changes.