EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Shuts Down Cliffhanger Studios

In a surprising turn of events, Electronic Arts (EA) has officially canceled its upcoming *Black Panther* game and is shutting down the development studio behind it, Cliffhanger Games, as confirmed by IGN. This decision comes as part of a broader internal restructuring aimed at streamlining EA’s creative resources and focusing on high-impact projects with the greatest potential for growth.

In a company-wide email, Laura Miele, President of EA Entertainment, explained that the cancellation of *Black Panther* and the closure of Cliffhanger Games are strategic moves designed to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities." These changes also include layoffs across both the mobile and central teams at EA, although the exact number of affected employees was not disclosed. While EA declined to provide specifics, sources indicate that fewer than the approximately 300 roles cut last month will be impacted in this latest round.

Miele acknowledged the emotional weight of these decisions, stating, “These decisions are hard. They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with.” The company remains committed to supporting affected employees through internal placement programs, which have helped relocate staff to other departments in past restructures. Despite the reductions, EA has grown its workforce significantly over the past year, employing 800 more people as of March 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Focus Shifts to Core Franchises

Going forward, EA plans to concentrate its efforts on a select group of major franchises: *Battlefield*, *The Sims*, *Skate*, and *Apex Legends*. In addition, the company reaffirmed its commitment to developing the Iron Man game at Motive Studios, the third installment in the *Star Wars: Jedi* series, and future titles from Bioware, including the next *Mass Effect* game. Mobile development will continue despite today's cuts, underscoring EA’s ongoing investment in this growing sector.

It’s worth noting that EA Sports remains unaffected by these changes, as it operates under a separate division. Laura Miele does not oversee EA Sports, which explains why the email did not reference this segment of the company.

The End of an Ambitious Marvel Collaboration

The *Black Panther* game was part of a three-title deal between EA and Marvel, which also included the *Iron Man* game and a third unannounced project. Details about the *Black Panther* title were scarce since its announcement in 2023, but previous reports indicated it was being developed as a single-player, open-world action-adventure experience. Cliffhanger Games, the studio formed in 2023 specifically for this project, was led by industry veteran Kevin Stephens and featured talent from the *Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor* team.

A Pattern of Restructuring

This news follows a pattern of recent cancellations and layoffs at EA throughout 2025 and beyond. Last month alone, EA laid off around 300 employees, including nearly 100 at Respawn Entertainment, where the studio also canceled an in-development *Titanfall* title and another incubation project. Earlier in the year, BioWare underwent restructuring, shifting some developers to new roles while laying others off. In 2024, EA eliminated 670 positions globally, including dozens at Respawn, and in 2023, BioWare cut 50 roles with additional reductions at Codemasters.

Return-to-Office Sparks Concern

Adding to the uncertainty, EA recently mandated a return-to-office policy for all employees, a move that has raised concerns among remote workers about the long-term stability of their roles. While EA has not commented further on whether more layoffs are expected, the company directed inquiries back to Miele’s internal message.

Marvel has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the future of its partnership with EA or the implications of the *Black Panther* cancellation.