Archive for: studio closings

Analyst Predicts Infinity Ward to Close Up Shop, Post-Map Pack

Despite Activision’s assurances that morale was high at Infinity Ward and that they would remain a strong and important part of the publisher’s future, the developer has been hemmoraging employees left and right in the wake of IW-Gate, many of whom have since gone on to join up with former bosses Jason West and Vince Zampella at Respawn Entertainment.

Now, one industry analyst has gone on record as saying that this gutting will likely spell curtains for the developers behind the blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise.

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Former Pandemic Employees Issue Office Space-style Tribute

Last week, we posted news that Pandemic Studios, creators of Destroy All Humans, Mercenaries, and December 8th’s The Saboteur, was being shut down.

EA representatives confirmed that nearly 200 people would be laid off. These bright (and opportunistic) Pandemic folks decided to post this final farewell to the world on behalf of the studio and give EA a big ol’ middle finger. Enjoy.

(Ed Note: Do be warned, the lyrics in the song are NSFW, so don’t crank this in your workplace unless you’re about to burn the building down – R.T.)

Pandemic Studios Gets the Axe

Yesterday, EA representatives confirmed the closure of Pandemic Studios, makers of such titles as Mercenaries, Star Wars: Battlefront, and the upcoming The Saboteur.

While the process of shutting the developer down is still underway, it appears that the vast majority of Pandemic’s 200 regular employees were shown the door. CEO Andrew Goldman, President Josh Resnick, and Vice President of Product Development Greg Borrud were included in that list.

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EA Plans Job Cuts, Cancels Titles, Aims to Close “Several Facilities”

Yesterday Electronic Arts announced it plans to slash over 1,500 jobs by March 2010 as a cost-reducing measure. Since October 2008 EA has already eliminated over 1,000 jobs.

The world’s second largest video game publisher said it will concentrate its efforts on products bearing “higher margin opportunities.”

“This action will result in the closure of several facilities and a headcount reduction of approximately 1,500 positions, of which 1,300 are included in the restructuring plan,” stated the publisher. “This plan will result in annual cost saving of at least $100 million and restructuring charges of $130 to $150 million.”

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