Employees at Electronic Arts have described a pervasive culture of secrecy, declining morale, and a lack of clear communication following recent layoffs and project cancellations. The publisher recently announced the dismissal of 400 employees across various studios, alongside the closure of the BioWare studio, which resulted in the departure of approximately 50 staff members. This restructuring is part of EA's strategy to focus on its most profitable titles following a significant acquisition.
According to reports from sources speaking to Vertical Slice, employees often learn about colleagues' terminations through indirect means such as LinkedIn. This practice, reportedly intended to protect the privacy of those affected, is perceived by some staff as a tactic to isolate individuals. The delay in communicating decisions about affected roles and ongoing projects can leave remaining team members uncertain about their responsibilities and future direction for weeks.
EA's method for informing employees of their termination involves Zoom calls where the chat function is disabled and other participants' cameras are hidden. This approach prevents employees from asking questions or saying goodbye to their colleagues, leading to sentiments of being treated as mere "numbers on a list" rather than individuals invested in specific projects.
The company's financial obligations, including a $20 billion debt incurred from its acquisition by a consortium of investors primarily backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, are seen by some as a driving factor behind these decisions. This financial pressure reportedly exacerbates the existing low morale, with employees feeling that the directive to "do less, better" translates into accomplishing the same amount of work with fewer people.
Concerns have also been raised about the company's prioritization of generative AI technologies over employee well-being. One employee described the recent organizational changes announcement as sounding "like it was written by a robot," characterizing EA as "a cold dead place that's slowly decaying as leadership pilfers every last cent."
These developments occur amidst a broader trend of significant layoffs within the video game industry. Microsoft's Xbox division has also undergone multiple rounds of staff reductions, aiming to eliminate 3,200 positions. Industry layoff tracker Raj Patel has indicated that 2026 is on pace to be the worst year on record for job losses in the sector.