Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed layoffs across its newly formed Battlefield Studios organization. Four major development teams, including DICE, Criterion Games, Motive Studio, and Ripple Effect, will experience job cuts. Despite Battlefield 6 ranking as the best-selling game in the US in 2025 and moving over seven million copies in its first three days, an undisclosed number of developers have been let go.
Internal communications describe the move as a "realignment" designed to focus on "what matters most to the community," even as the company sits on record profits. It prepares for a massive AED 202.01 billion private acquisition.
The job cuts hit every studio working on the Battlefield series at the same time. Employees found out their roles were being phased out despite the game having the "biggest launch in franchise history."
A spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that the company has made "select changes" to "better align our teams." Many insiders believe the timing is tied to the loss of leader Vince Zampella, who passed away in a car accident last December. Without his guidance, the company is using a feedback program called "Battlefield Labs" to justify cutting the very teams that built the game.
The game had over 747,000 players on Steam at launch, but that number has since dropped to about 65,000 daily users. This 90% drop has scared investors. Additionally, the new "Redsec" game mode has received "Mostly Negative" reviews from fans.
EA is currently being bought by a group that includes the Public Investment Fund (PIF). This deal is scheduled to happen in early 2027 and will bring a "preposterous amount of debt." The layoffs appear to be an effort to improve the company’s financial position ahead of the sale.
The situation at Battlefield Studios shows that job security cannot be guaranteed despite a title’s success. EA is moving toward a smaller team model to please its future owners. In the coming months, the focus will be on whether the remaining team can address the game's poor reviews. The future of the series now depends on whether a smaller group can satisfy fans while the company prepares for its multi-billion-dollar sale.