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It is understood that EA have been laying off employees around the company, with estimates of up to 10% of the workforce being affected by this. EA posted an official statement:
In recent weeks, EA has aligned all elements of its organizational structure behind priorities in new technologies and mobile. This has led to some difficult decisions to reduce the workforce in some locations. We are extremely grateful for the contributions made by each of our employees – those that are leaving EA will be missed by their colleagues and friends.
These are hard but essential changes as we focus on delivering great games and showing players around the world why to spend their time with us.
It has also been rumoured since last night that EA will be closing their EA Partners program, which has published games from companies such as Valve and Epic. I also presume that jobs at Playfish in the UK are being cut following the closures of their Facebook games.
This all comes following the departure of EA’s CEO John Riccitiello last month. Larry Probst, who served as EA’s CEO for many years prior to Riccitiello, is currently executive chairman while the hunt for a new CEO continues.
We can only hope that employees affected by this are okay, as this must be a very hard time for them, and we wish them the very best of luck in the future.
Wow, EA, fire your employees rather than actually change your ridiculous business practices that basically drive away customers by destroying consumer trust. Hope these sacked employees go on to make their own company that challenge EA.
A layoff is different than being fired, in my own country you’re able to have Employment Insurance help out while you’re looking for a job after being laid off. I’m sure that EA’s restructuring will have to be done with some scissors as it is a pretty large company at that. With any luck the employees will be able to jump back at it with someone else and by trimming some fat EA will be able to bounce back after a particularly hard couple of years.
Sometimes being laid off is as bad as being fired. Restructuring or not, I believe this is a sign that EA is in trouble. People are either quitting or being let go from EA. Unfortunately, this is not the old “Electronic Arts” from the old days that made quality programs, nor do I think it ever will be again. They are falling… quickly. It’s only a matter of time now.
For all those who left by choice or not, I hope they are able to find work elsewhere.
I don’t think it is about being in trouble, I think it’s because of the faulty online game companies. They aren’t working so they will be cutting away from it. It is coinciding with the closure of the Face Book games. They better not let any of our Gurus go, that’s all I have to say.
thankyou crystal