In a move that has sent ripples through the gaming community, Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed a series of layoffs across the four primary studios responsible for Battlefield 6. The news comes as a shock to many, given the title’s dominant performance over the past year.

The Paradox of Success

Battlefield 6 entered the market as a juggernaut. Not only did it secure Game of the Year honors at the UKIE Video Game Awards, but it also shattered records by selling over seven million units within its first 72 hours. By the end of 2025, it stood as the top-selling video game in the United States.

However, the “momentum” seems to have stalled. Recent data highlights a significant decline in player retention:

• Launch Peak (Steam): 747,440 concurrent players
• Current 24-Hour Peak: 67,080 concurrent players

By comparison, rival shooter Arc Raiders has maintained a much steadier player base, currently peaking at over 235,000 daily players.

Impacted Studios and EA’s Stance

The layoffs affect personnel at Criterion (UK), DICE (Sweden), Ripple Effect (California), and Motive (Canada). In a statement provided to GamesIndustry.biz, an EA spokesperson characterized the cuts as a “realignment” strategy:

“We’ve made select changes within our Battlefield organization to better align our teams around what matters most to our community… Battlefield remains one of our biggest priorities, and we’re continuing to invest in the franchise, guided by player feedback and insights from Battlefield Labs.”

This internal restructuring comes on the heels of similar redundancies at Full Circle, the studio currently developing the new Skate title.

The $55 Billion Horizon

The broader context for these changes is EA’s impending acquisition. Shareholders have already approved a $55 billion deal expected to conclude in early 2027. Upon completion, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is projected to own more than 93.4% of the company.

Industry Jobs Roundup: March 2026

While some studios contract, others are expanding their executive suites. Here are the key moves across the games industry this week:

ProbablyMonsters Strengthens Leadership

The independent developer ProbablyMonsters has announced three major appointments to its core leadership team to oversee its growing portfolio of original titles:

• Jonathan Lander (Chief Publishing Officer): Formerly the SVP of global product and publishing at Bethesda Softworks.
• David Reid (Chief Marketing Officer): Brings over 20 years of experience from Xbox, CCP Games, and Behaviour Interactive.
• Mark Subotnick (Chief Product Officer): Transitioning from his role as Head of Studios at the company.

Other Notable Transitions

• Kasedo Games: Has appointed Timea Edvi as its new Publishing Director.
• Sixteen Tons: Welcomes Sebastian Nußuam as Chief Creative Officer (CCO).

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