EA Cancels Black Panther Project and Closes Cliffhanger Games Studio

Electronic Arts has made the decision to cancel the development of its Black Panther video game and has subsequently closed Cliffhanger Games, the studio behind the project. Cliffhanger Games was officially announced in July 2023 with the Black Panther game as its inaugural title. According to an internal statement from EA Entertainment President Laura Miele, the closure is part of the company's effort to 'sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.' EA has not provided further details on the number of jobs affected by the closure, but it is believed that the central and mobile teams have also been impacted by the redundancies. Miele acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions, stating that they affect colleagues with whom the company has shared significant experiences and is working to support them, including exploring new opportunities within EA. The company appears to be concentrating its efforts on a select few of its owned intellectual properties, including Apex Legends, Battlefield, Skate, and The Sims. However, Miele reassured staff that EA remains committed to several key projects, including BioWare's Mass Effect, Motive's Iron Man, and the Star Wars: Jedi series, as well as its mobile portfolio. This announcement comes shortly after EA reduced its workforce by 300 positions, primarily affecting developers at Respawn Entertainment and the EA Experiences team.