Electronic Arts to lay off five percent of workforce [Update 2: Star Wars first-person shooter canceled]

Electronic Artshas tapped former PlayStation executive Connie Booth as its new Group General Manager within its Action RPG division. EA is currently in the process of restructuring following a tumultuous first quarter, which included laying off 5% of its employees and the cancelation of multiple titles that were in development.

Former PlayStation head of internal production, Connie Booth, has joined Electronic Arts.

Former PlayStation executive Connie Booth, one of the chief architects of PlayStation's first-party strategy before her unexpected departure in 2023, is joining EA to help lead its studios amid its ongoing restructure.

EA has reportedly laid off some employees from the Apex Legends community team working at Respawn Entertainment. This move related to the Apex Legends team comes in the wake of a layoff announcement made by the California-based publisher last month.

Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment has suffered a round of layoffs as part of wider cuts at parent company Electronic Arts.

Just a day after Sony confirmed it's laying off 900 PlayStation employees across its first-party studios, publisher EA has announced it's doing the same. In the region of 670 workers — or around five per cent of the company's workforce — will lose their jobs as the EA Sports FC, Battlefield distributor moves «away from development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry».

The Star Wars strategy title being made by developer Bit Reactor and published by EA is still in the works.

The Star Wars strategy game currently in development at Bit Reactor will continue, despite recent layoffs at publisher EA.

EA is the latest game company to announce layoffs, with 5% of its workforce to be made redundant. From the most recent headcount EA provided – 13,400 in March 2023 – that would amount to around 670 people.

In Shakespeare's Anthony And Cleopatra, said famous woman says "Give to a gracious message an host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell themselves when they be felt." I.e., when you have good news you can go round the houses, but if you have bad news - like sending an all-hands email to the staff at EA to let them know that, less than a year after the last round of layoffs, a further 5% of them are getting booted - then you should just come out and say it as quickly and simply as possible.

Following its decision to cut six percent of its workforce last March, EA has announced another round of layoffs — this time affecting five percent of staff (around 670 employees) — as it moves away from «future licensed IP» toward its «owned IP, sports, and massive online communities».

Electronic Arts has announced a restructuring plan that will see it lay off approximately 5% of its global workforce.