I’m reporting live on a major shake-up at Electronic Arts that Eurogamer has published from an internal memo: the publisher is making sweeping changes that allegedly include closing BioWare, cutting around 400 jobs across the company, and pausing work on a Sims-related title called Project Lotus. Take this with a pinch of salt, but if true these are some of the most significant moves we’ve seen from a major publisher in recent memory.
What Was Reported
According to Eurogamer, EA executives sent a memo to staff outlining multiple portfolio and organisational changes. Key claims in that memo include:
- Closure Of BioWare — the memo reportedly lists the closure of BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
- Job Cuts — Bloomberg is cited as reporting that around 400 jobs will be cut as part of the cost-cutting changes, including roughly 50 roles at BioWare.
- The Sims Changes — EA is said to be prioritising a title called Project Evergreen while “pausing development” on another Sims-related project called Project Lotus.
- Skate. Restructure — though the early access Skate. “has had a lot of success,” EA reportedly plans to reconfigure the studio into a smaller, more focused team.
- Respawn And DICE Collaboration — the memo reportedly says EA will bring together Respawn and DICE to collaborate on a future project.
- Other Portfolio Notes — the memo allegedly states that Marvel’s Iron Man and a third Star Wars Jedi title remain untouched, and reiterates commitments to Apex Legends, the Battlefield series (after the success of Battlefield 6), and EA Sports projects including a return of Fight Night and a new social-first open-world project called Project Gridiron.
- Corporate Positioning — the executives reportedly wrote: “Today, we're the number one publisher in Western HD gaming.”
Immediate Company Response
Per Eurogamer, the memo promises support for impacted employees, saying EA will help them explore other opportunities within the company and commit to treating those colleagues “with care and respect.”
The Source & Credibility
This coverage is based on the Eurogamer story, which cites an internal memo from EA executives David Tinson and Cam Weber, and references Bloomberg for the scale of job cuts. The detail about bringing Respawn and DICE together echoes other industry chatter; for context on similar studio collaboration rumours see our earlier report on Respawn And DICE.
As ever, take this with a pinch of salt. The claims combine an internal corporate memo and reporting from Bloomberg as relayed by Eurogamer. Where language in the memo was specific — such as “pausing development” on Project Lotus — I have reflected that wording rather than converting it to definitive cancellations or firings beyond what those sources say.
What It Could Mean
If the memo is accurate, EA appears to be sharply narrowing the number of large-scale simultaneous projects it runs and shifting teams to concentrate on fewer priorities. The memo reportedly states the company will “concentrate our efforts on fewer simultaneous, large-scale projects,” a strategic pivot that could reshape how the publisher allocates resources.
Practical outcomes, if true, could include:
- More internal consolidation between studios, highlighted by the planned Respawn + DICE collaboration.
- Prioritisation of franchise and live-service properties such as Apex Legends and Battlefield, per the memo.
- Less room for concurrent big-budget action-adventure projects — the memo explicitly notes a focus on ensuring each large-scale title is “fully set up for success.”
There’s also a broader labour context to consider: major publishers have recently taken significant workforce decisions elsewhere — for instance, our coverage of Ubisoft Germany Buyouts looked at staffing risk in another large company — and this report fits into that pattern if it proves accurate.
Why This Matters
Allegedly closing BioWare, pausing a Sims project like Project Lotus, and cutting around 400 jobs would be a substantial industry event. For players, developers, and stakeholders, these moves — if true — signal a publisher refocusing its priorities, doubling down on certain franchises, and trimming others.
Take the claims seriously but cautiously: they come via an internal memo reported by Eurogamer and Bloomberg and use language like “pausing development” that suggests nuance. I’ll keep tracking this closely and will update readers as more confirmations or denials arrive. For now, consider this a major rumour grounded in reporting — big if true,
