EA Reportedly Closes Cliffhanger Games; Black Panther Project Canceled

[T0@st]

Throughout the Spring season, Electronics Arts (EA) has reduced development team numbers across several of its international first-party game development studios. According to a fairly fresh IGN news report, another North American operation has been shutdown. Cliffhanger Games was working on a triple-A Black Panther intellectual property, with Marvel's full approval—as teased back in mid-2023. IGN's inside sources have leaked an email—allegedly authored by Laura Miele, EA Entertainment's president—that was addressed the latest round of layoffs at Cliffhanger Games, and unspecified "mobile and central teams." Apparently these adjustments are necessary; Miele (reportedly) believes that these changes will: "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities...These decisions are hard. They affect people we've worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We're doing everything we can to support them—including finding opportunities within EA, where we've had success helping people land in new roles." In recent times, company leadership had openly discussed a move away from licensed IP projects. Supposedly, Miele's email mentions a focus on core EA franchises going forward: The Sims, Skate, Battlefield, and Apex Legends.

eXtas1s, a somewhat unreliable source of inside track info has weighed in with related news. The Spanish leaker shared an offbeat claim: "I have learned that around 400 more layoffs are coming at EA, the total closure of Codemasters HQ, and that those developers will be integrated into EA Sports (F1), and a new Need For Speed that is already in development." Going back to late April, EA declared that an unspecified number of layoffs were underway at Codemasters. Earlier this month, the long-running British racing game specialist had stopped working on the popular WRC franchise. Since then, NACON—a French publication house—has picked up the FIA World Rally Championship license. Within the same time period, an official announcement outlined the cancelation of two unannounced projects at Respawn Entertainment. Prior to cessations, the Los Angeles, California-based outfit was working on two "early stage" titles—insider reports suggested that one of these mystery IPs was some sort of nascent Titanfall title. Interestingly, Respawn's leader—Vince Zampella—is steering the next Battlefield game. Several EA studios have been roped into a multipronged production approach.



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[Legacy-ZA]

Yes, good, very good.

 

[the54thvoid]

I misread part of the OP as a game called 'Skate Battlefield'.

That'd be cool. Although I think it's already called ice-hockey.

 

[bad1080]

it's almost as if they only buy those studios to get rid of competition, at least in the case for codemasters

 

[dtoxic]

Ohh boy the Two people who waited for this game will sure be disappointed.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

EA seems to always be a day late and a dollar short. When they had exclusivity for the Star Wars license (for 11 years no less), they put out something like 3 games instead of basically getting all of their studios making a Star Wars shooter/RPG/Tactics/hack n slash/etc etc etc. They've put out more Star Wars games after they've lost exclusivity than before.

Now they're trying to roll MCU games well after the MCU peaked in popularity and modern movies have been bomb after bomb.

 

[Legacy-ZA]

EA seems to always be a day late and a dollar short. When they had exclusivity for the Star Wars license (for 11 years no less), they put out something like 3 games instead of basically getting all of their studios making a Star Wars shooter/RPG/Tactics/hack n slash/etc etc etc. They've put out more Star Wars games after they've lost exclusivity than before.

Now they're trying to roll MCU games well after the MCU peaked in popularity and modern movies have been bomb after bomb.

Yes, anything great, they destroy, it's like they deliberately ruin great IPs to make their crap seem more appealing.

 

[Axiomatic]

EA, where intellectual property goes to die.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

EA Cancelled two things.... A studio and a one game that was in development.

With that said. Has Cliffhanger ever made any notable games? I know they did some Jagged Alliance stuff but they werent the original developers of that franchise.

 

[Guwapo77]

Why in the heck is there so much hate for a Black Panther game?

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Why in the heck is there so much hate for a Black Panther game?

-Hmmm not seeing anyone hating on the BP game specifically, more EA's shit timing and poor management.

Where was this game... Jesus when was the MCU a thing... Uh... 5... No 7 years ago?

 

[Kohl Baas]

EA seems to always be a day late and a dollar short. When they had exclusivity for the Star Wars license (for 11 years no less), they put out something like 3 games instead of basically getting all of their studios making a Star Wars shooter/RPG/Tactics/hack n slash/etc etc etc. They've put out more Star Wars games after they've lost exclusivity than before.

Now they're trying to roll MCU games well after the MCU peaked in popularity and modern movies have been bomb after bomb.

Take it one step forward and make Star Wars themed versions of all their current/established IPs to spare some time. Need for Speed: Pod Race anyone? Battlefield Rogue Company?

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Take it one step forward and make Star Wars themed versions of all their current/established IPs to spare some time. Need for Speed: Pod Race anyone? Battlefield Rogue Company?

-Knight of the Old Republic 3, Jesus EA it was right there, you even own Bioware (peace be upon them)!

 

[Darc Requiem]

I didn't even know there was a Black Panther game in development at EA. Which isn't a good sign for the game when you look at my avatar. When I first heard about the cancellation, I thought they were talking about Marvel 1943 but then I remembered that isn't an EA game.

 

[Guwapo77]

-Hmmm not seeing anyone hating on the BP game specifically, more EA's shit timing and poor management.

Where was this game... Jesus when was the MCU a thing... Uh... 5... No 7 years ago?

Yeah, I can respect that! However, if its done right, time doesn't matter. Black Panther isn't done...the MCU is still just warming up (lets just ignore the MCU's rough patch).