Layoffs
Ongoing coverage on Layoffs.
Latest coverage
"Mass Layoffs" May Follow EA Sale
Following the acquisition of Electronic Arts by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, discussions have turned to potential mass layoffs. The article suggests that significant workforce reductions may occur as a result of the sale.
Comings and Goings
Refactor Games, the developer behind FIFA World Cup, has undergone significant layoffs, cutting 85% of its staff. In other industry news, the director of Assassin's Creed Valhalla has returned to Ubisoft to lead the series.
Saudi-acquired EA is reportedly planning to make massive cuts after taking $18 billion of debt, and we all know what…
Electronic Arts has officially gone private under the ownership of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This transition involves taking on $18 billion in debt, leading to a reported $700 million in annual cost-cutting measures, which are expected to result in significant layoffs across the company.
Electronic Arts’ $55B buyout has officially completed – and the company is already plotting layoffs
Electronic Arts has officially been acquired for $55 billion by a consortium of investment firms, primarily Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, making it a private entity. The deal, which carries $18 billion in debt, is expected to lead to significant cost-cutting measures, including mass layoffs, with reports indicating $700 million in annual savings are planned.
Mass layoffs expected at EA as the now-private publisher reportedly tells its new debt masters that it's going to…
Following its $55 billion acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, Electronic Arts is reportedly planning mass layoffs to manage significant debt. The publisher has informed debt investors of plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million in organizational efficiencies, to service approximately $1.8 billion in annual interest payments.
EA Is Now Owned By Saudi Arabia, Layoffs Expected
Electronic Arts has reportedly been acquired by a Saudi-led group, a move that has drawn attention due to the country's human rights record. The acquisition is expected to lead to layoffs as the company addresses significant debt incurred from the deal.
12 years after being delisted, Wolfenstein 2009 could be getting a surprise remaster at QuakeCon 2026, fans speculate…
Fans are speculating that the 2009 Wolfenstein game could receive a remaster, with recent changes to its Steam page, including the removal of its release date and the addition of Steam Deck compatibility, fueling these theories. The game was delisted in 2014 due to licensing issues and has not been available digitally since, making a remaster a potential surprise reveal at QuakeCon. This speculation comes amidst reports of layoffs impacting id Software following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media.
More EA layoffs expected as Saudi Arabia buyout is completed
Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion acquisition by an investor consortium, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, making it a private company. The deal, financed partly by a $20 billion loan, raises concerns about potential mass layoffs and increased microtransactions to offset the debt. The PIF now holds a majority stake, leading to discussions about potential censorship of inclusive titles like The Sims due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
"If Quantic Dream wants to destroy jobs, it must pay": French union call strike as they demand extension to layoff negotiations with Star Wars Eclipse studio
The French union Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) has called for an open-ended strike at Quantic Dream, citing stalled negotiations over planned layoffs affecting approximately 115 workers. The union accuses the company of imposing illegal deadlines and ignoring worker proposals, demanding an extension to the negotiation period and the inclusion of their propositions in the layoff plan.
"Mass layoffs" expected at EA, as $55bn buyout by Saudi Arabia's PIF and Donald Trump's son-in-law officially goes through
Electronic Arts has officially been acquired by a consortium including Silver Lake, Affinity Partners led by Jared Kushner, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, making it a privately owned company. The deal, valued at $55 billion, will see EA delisted from NASDAQ, with stockholders receiving $210 per share. The acquisition is a leveraged buyout, with EA taking on $18 billion in debt, leading to speculation of significant cost-cutting measures, including mass layoffs, to manage annual interest payments.
EA to Cut Costs by $700 Million Annually, Potential Mass Layoffs Inbound – Rumor
Electronic Arts is reportedly planning to cut $700 million in annual costs following its acquisition by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This move is expected to lead to significant layoffs across the company, despite EA's current financial stability. New investors plan to leverage AI in game development, which could also impact staffing.
EA Has Officially Been Sold, And What Comes Next Could Be Painful
Electronic Arts has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in a $55 billion leveraged buyout, making it the largest LBO in history. The deal has raised concerns about potential layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations due to the significant debt involved. EA CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his position, but the company's future financial operations will be less transparent as it moves from public to private ownership.
Comings and Goings
Refactor Games, the developer behind FIFA World Cup, has reportedly let go of staff as part of a company refactor. The exact number of employees affected and the reasons behind the layoffs were not disclosed.
The developer behind Fifa World Cup - which launched less than two months ago - has laid off 85% of its staff
Refractor Games, the developer of Fifa World Cup: Launch Edition, has laid off approximately 85 percent of its staff. The game was released exclusively on Netflix on June 11. Affected employees shared the news on social media, citing funding cancellation for future projects as the reason for the mass layoffs.
Rumours of an unannounced Elder Scrolls game are bogus, sadly
Rumors of an unannounced Elder Scrolls game have been debunked, with former Bethesda associate game designer Griffin DeClaire clarifying that his work was solely on The Elder Scrolls VI. DeClaire was laid off from Bethesda Game Studios, which is also in pre-production for Fallout 5 and continuing development on Fallout 76, alongside remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.
Xbox's FanFest world tour is still going ahead, for some reason, even after Microsoft fired the guy who created it
Despite recent layoffs, Microsoft's Xbox division is proceeding with its global FanFest tour, an event created by Chris Munson, who was among those let go. The tour includes stops in Cologne, Tokyo, London, Mexico City, Sydney, Toronto, and Seattle, with specific dates announced for Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show. This continuation of the fan event comes amidst broader restructuring and significant price increases for Xbox consoles in Europe.
Comings and Goings
Lightspeed LA, the developer of Last Sentinel, has reportedly cut 80 roles. Additionally, AI startup Reforged Labs has shut down, with its founders citing a closing market gap as the reason for its closure.
Microsoft confirms increased Xbox prices in the UK and Europe
Microsoft has confirmed increased prices for Xbox consoles in the UK and Europe, with the 512GB model rising by £130/€150 and the 1TB model by £170/€200. The company cited higher storage and memory costs as the primary reason for these adjustments. This follows recent restructuring within Xbox, including layoffs and a reported decline in Xbox revenue.
MMO Week in Review: I want to believe
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates and announcements for numerous titles including Stars Reach, EverQuest Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and Final Fantasy XIV. Key stories include Stars Reach's official early access date, Elder Scrolls Online's post-layoff roadmap, and Guild Wars 3 revealing its composers. The article also touches on game development, business practices, and player sentiment across various MMORPGs.
Last Sentinel Spent 6 Years and “Hundreds of Millions” to Compete With GTA and Failed – Rumor
Lightspeed LA's ambitious open-world cyberpunk game, Last Sentinel, has reportedly been in development for six years with a budget in the hundreds of millions, aiming to compete with Grand Theft Auto. Despite features like an elaborate story and destructible environments, the project has suffered from staff turnover, unclear creative vision, negative internal playtest feedback, and significant layoffs. Tencent has expressed dissatisfaction, leading to a drastic change in the game's direction, with its eventual release uncertain.
