Electronic Arts
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'Morale has been terrible' at EA, workers claim, saying that AI mandates and mismanagement have left the company 'a cold dead place that's slowly decaying as leadership pilfers every last cent'
Employees at Electronic Arts have reported extremely low morale, citing mismanagement, mandates to work on unsuccessful live service games, and the push towards generative AI. Sources claim leadership is detached, with executive pay remaining high while development teams face layoffs and difficult working conditions. The article highlights specific issues at BioWare and the perceived disconnect between executive decisions and the reality on the ground.
As EA kills Mass Effect 5, BioWare co-founder slams "weird belief" you can "recreate great games with random people and AI" – "It doesn't work"
Following the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and layoffs at BioWare, co-founder Greg Zeschuk criticized the industry's reliance on executives who lack game development experience and a "weird belief" in recreating games with AI. The article highlights concerns about morale at Electronic Arts amid ongoing layoffs and the publisher's embrace of AI tools.
BioWare co-founder says EA's Saudi Arabia buyout was "the final nail in the coffin" for the RPG studio: "It's easier just to pump out sports games"
BioWare co-founder Ray Zeschuk believes Electronic Arts' acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was the final blow to the RPG studio, citing concerns over human rights and potential policing of game content. Zeschuk suggests EA will now prioritize sports titles and Battlefield over complex RPGs like Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
If GTA 6 Beats Football On Thanksgiving, That’s A Win, EA Founder Says
EA founder Bing Gordon believes Grand Theft Auto 6 would be a success if it sells 75 million copies, a figure he derived from trailer viewership. He also suggested that playing GTA 6 over watching football on Thanksgiving would signify its cultural impact. Despite the lack of official sales data, projections indicate massive commercial success for the highly anticipated title.
Underrated PS5 Sci-Fi Action Game Is 80% Off on PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is offering an 80% discount on the Dead Space Digital Deluxe Edition for PlayStation 5, reducing the price to $15.99 until November 5, 2026. This edition includes the base game and five cosmetic items, featuring upgraded visuals and gameplay improvements while staying true to the original's survival horror experience.
Mass Effect 5 studio was reportedly told to tone down inclusivity by EA after Saudi Arabia buyout, former BioWare dev…
Former BioWare developers have reportedly stated that Electronic Arts instructed them to tone down inclusivity in the unreleased Mass Effect 5 following the company's acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Developers allegedly had to remove an LGBTQIA+ flag from a presentation to avoid causing offense, reflecting broader concerns about content policing after the buyout.
Mass Effect composer wants to rescore leaked internal ME Universe trailer to "properly represent my musical vision"
Mass Effect composer Sam Hulick plans to rescore a leaked internal trailer for the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game to better reflect his musical vision, aiming for release on N7 Day. Meanwhile, Palworld developer Pocketpair remains hopeful about releasing their game on the Switch 2, despite an ongoing legal battle with Nintendo over alleged patent infringement.
As Skydance merges with Warner Bros. and Paramount, the company offers voluntary redundancy and mandates return to the office
Skydance, the newly formed entity combining Warner Bros. and Paramount, has implemented a mandatory five-day return-to-office policy for all employees, citing the importance of in-person collaboration. The company has also offered voluntary buyouts as part of its integration process. This move follows similar return-to-office mandates from EA and voluntary buyout offers from Microsoft.
EA morale hits a new low amid AI push and BioWare closure: "A cold dead place that's slowly decaying as leadership pilfers every last cent"
Morale at Electronic Arts is reportedly at an all-time low following recent layoffs and the closure of BioWare's studio. Employees describe the layoff process as impersonal and disruptive, with management pushing generative AI tools despite employee concerns. The publisher's acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has also led to significant cost-cutting measures.
Games Inbox: Will Red Dead Redemption 3 be Rockstar’s next game?
Readers discuss Rockstar Games' next project, with speculation leaning towards Red Dead Redemption 3 over new IPs, despite a desire for experimentation. Other topics include the perceived high pricing of PlayStation Store digital games, the mismanagement of BioWare leading to the decline of franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, and concerns about future online security threats and the impact of piracy on the games industry.
Mass Effect composer Sam Hulick is working on a 're-scored' version of the leaked Mass Effect 5 trailer for N7…
Mass Effect composer Sam Hulick plans to release a re-scored version of the leaked Mass Effect 5 trailer with his own music for N7 Day. Hulick, who worked on the original Mass Effect trilogy, expressed sadness over BioWare layoffs and hopes to properly represent his musical vision for the game.
‘Save Mass Effect’ effort continues with instantly successful fundraiser for more billboards near EA HQ and more
A fan-led initiative to 'Save Mass Effect' has successfully raised funds for additional billboards near Electronic Arts headquarters. The campaign aims to garner attention and advocate for the future of the Mass Effect franchise.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 585: BioWare dies, SWTOR lives on
The Massively OP Podcast episode 585 discusses the closure of BioWare by EA, alongside updates on MapleStory Classic World, Dragon Nest Classic, WoW Forever, Elder Scrolls Online Season 2, and EverQuest Legends. The hosts also explore the concept of offline MMOs and spotlight Tower Unite.
Hasbro games and Wizards of the Coast's new president is a former Halo studio head
Hasbro has appointed Dan Ayoub as the new president of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games, overseeing titles like Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. Ayoub, formerly of 343 Industries and Certain Affinity, expressed his commitment to fans and creators. This appointment comes amidst ongoing unionization efforts by developers concerned about AI adoption.
EA workers complain of ‘terrible’ morale amid layoffs and ‘heavily pushed’ generative AI
Electronic Arts employees are reportedly experiencing terrible morale due to recent layoffs and a strong push towards generative AI implementation. One anonymous employee described the company as a 'cold dead place that's slowly decaying as leadership pilfers every last cent.'
Changing acquired studios' core identity consistently leads to doom, says Nightdive Studios CEO
Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick believes that acquiring game studios and then forcing them to change their core identity or development practices consistently leads to their eventual downfall. He contrasts this with Atari's approach, which has allowed Nightdive and other acquired studios to continue focusing on their strengths, such as remastering classic games, leading to a more positive outcome.
Mass Effect fans protest EA with Times Square ad and plans for The Game Awards
Mass Effect fans are launching a campaign, including a Change.org petition and a Times Square billboard, to pressure Electronic Arts into continuing the franchise after the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of the next Mass Effect game. Despite EA's decision, an Amazon TV adaptation is reportedly still in development, and composer Austin Wintory has shared music he created for the cancelled project.
Assassin's Creed and Halo veteran who served as Mass Effect 5's art director says it's "heartbreaking" to see the team BioWare built split apart: "We were good at this"
Nicolas Bouvier, former art director for the canceled Mass Effect 5 and veteran of Assassin's Creed and Halo, expressed heartbreak over the closure of BioWare and the loss of the team's potential. He described the studio as a tightly knit and talented group whose work on the next Mass Effect installment will never be released.
Steam Frame kernel updated with external CD-ROM drive compatibility just one day after a user asked Valve for it
Valve has updated the Steam Deck's Linux kernel to include support for external CD-ROM drives, a feature requested by a user who wanted to play older games like Need For Speed Carbon. The change was implemented rapidly after the user's community post, demonstrating a quick response from a Valve employee.
"Mass Effect was my ultimate white whale": Journey composer shares 20 minutes of music created during talks to work on BioWare's recently cancelled RPG
Composer Austin Wintory, known for his work on Journey, shared approximately 20 minutes of music he created for the cancelled Mass Effect 5 during talks with BioWare. Wintory expressed his deep disappointment over the project's cancellation and BioWare's subsequent closure, calling it a "white whale" project. The music explored new directions for the franchise's score, blending synths and orchestral elements.
