Electronic Arts has announced layoffs at all of its studios working on the Battlefield series, including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive, just a short time after the record-breaking launch of Battlefield 6. The layoffs, under the umbrella of a “realignment” of development for the series, raise questions about the long-term viability of the series.
Internal communications, according to reports, told those being laid off that these layoffs are part of a larger restructuring of development for Battlefield as EA looks to move into live-service support for Battlefield 6. While all of these studios continue to be active, it is unclear how many positions are being cut or what specific roles are being impacted.
The reduction is particularly disconcerting since Battlefield 6 was released with record-breaking sales figures for the series, signifying one of the best launches from EA in the shooter genre in recent years. However, despite the robust launch, the game has experienced inconsistent post-launch growth with Steam user reviews dropping from “Mostly Positive” to “Mixed” owing to criticisms surrounding monetization models, the use of generative AI-based cosmetics, and the pace at which fresh content is being introduced.
In addition to this, there is the backdrop of the multi-year shake-up affecting the Battlefield series, with the shutdown of Ridgeline Games in 2024, the Seattle-based team tasked with creating a narrative-driven single-player campaign before their duties were handed over to Criterion Games. The shutdown was framed by EA as an attempt to assemble the largest Battlefield team in the history of the series.
Internally, the layoffs come at the same time that the company is awaiting an acquisition deal from a Saudi-led investor group, which has already faced sharp criticism from worker organizations after two years of cuts within the company. EA has said that the restructuring will ultimately benefit the series, but the human cost behind that promise continues to grow.