Image: Electronic Arts
Respawn's now-cancelled Star Wars shooter was reportedly set to be a Mandalorian game.
Electronic Arts has announced that it’s laying off roughly 670 of its staff, which amounts to 5% of its total workforce. The company CEO announced the layoffs via a memo, adding that, “We are also sunsetting games and moving away from development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry.”
We’ve already seen the first results of the company’s new direction: according to IGN, Respawn Entertainment’s previously-announced Star Wars first-person shooter has been cancelled.
Electronic Arts cancels Respawn’s Mandalorian game
EA’s entertainment president Laura Miele sent a memo to workers this week, confirming that Respawn’s Star Wars FPS game has been cancelled. In the memo, Miele wrote, “It’s always hard to walk away from a project, and this decision is not a reflection of the team’s talent, tenacity, or passion they have for the game. Giving fans the next instalments of the iconic franchises they want is the definition of blockbuster storytelling and the right place to focus.”
Developers who were working on the untitled Star Wars game are now being relocated to other games in development at EA, including Apex Legends, Black Panther, Iron Man and a new Star Wars: Jedi game. Respawn still has an untitled Star Wars strategy game in the works, in addition to an unannounced game from the director of Titanfall. The Star Wars FPS was originally rumoured to be a Mandalorian game, though it wouldn’t star Din Djarin.
The cancellation of Respawn’s new Star Wars FPS comes down to shifting focus away from games reliant on licensed IP that, as CEO Andrew Wilson put it, the company does, “not believe will be successful in our changing industry.” The company now plans to double down on, “owned IP, sports, and massive online communities.” It appears that EA is looking to take fewer risks in new licensed games, and wishes to rely more on existing franchises like EA Sports FC and Star Wars: Jedi.
EA is also slimming down its workforce by some 670 workers, even after having fired 700 people in March last year. This has been a tough week in the games industry for layoffs overall. Sony Interactive Entertainment fired 900 people from its studios including Insomniac Games, Guerrilla Games, Naughty Dog and more. Supermassive Games and Deck Nine Games also committed layoffs, along with the esports company ESL. A games industry tracker estimates that almost 8000 people have been laid off in the first two months of 2024, compared to over 10,500 people in the entirety of 2023.