While EA shuts down BioWare, developers of The Sims, Skate, and Battlefield say they've also lost their jobs
EA’s layoffs extend beyond BioWare, affecting Maxis, Ripple Effect, and Full Circle, with 400 staff reportedly cut across multiple studios.
Electronic Arts has confirmed layoffs affecting 400 employees across multiple studios, including Maxis, Ripple Effect, and Full Circle, in addition to shutting down BioWare. The announcement, first reported by Bloomberg, did not specify which studios would be impacted. Affected developers include Maxis staff working on The Sims and Ripple Effect staff involved in Battlefield titles. The cuts follow a leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has left EA seeking funds to cover debt.
Maxis senior creative director Anna Huerta confirmed her layoff, expressing sadness over leaving projects she cared about. Dylan Palmer, a Sims artist at Maxis since 2019, also shared his redundancy. At Full Circle, seasonal creative director John Epler and senior designer David Milne were among those let go, alongside other longtime staff. These layoffs follow earlier cuts at Full Circle earlier this year.
Ripple Effect, known for Battlefield 6 and Battlefield 2042, also saw staff reductions, with posts from character artist Corey Thomas and others confirming their departures. The studio’s Battlefield Portal UGC platform remains unaffected. No indication has been given that any of these studios or their games are being canceled or shuttered.
EA’s layoffs coincide with its acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which took on significant debt. The publisher has not detailed how the cuts will impact ongoing projects, but the financial pressure from the buyout appears to be driving the workforce reductions across multiple studios.