What was reported
Coverage of this story continues to develop across the region, and the account below restates what was reported by the original publication without adding anything that was not already there.
Facebook X Reddit Flipboard Email 0 us EA took axe to BioWare week after a slow death partially of mandates to either on live service that didn't (Anthem) pivot from live service in chaotic development cycles A report from Vertical Slice also claims that its morale is at all-time low. Speaking to Chris Kerr, choosing to anonymous, sources state that has been terrible. we kept hearing is less, better' but just felt like we doing same amount less people." doesn't that "upper management was excited about Claude possibilities of [generative] AI, to chagrin of my team." not entirely shocking that AI is exciting executive to give credit where undue, there are in which use of AI could, applied conservatively, save on Latest Videos FromPC Watch full video But in utterly brutal industry none of these employees keen on idea that management might them AI while not understanding jobs: "The message from single manager I've is 'this is future, you to get onboard'," writes source, while another adds: won't tell you these tools are a but they'll make impossible for you to do your without [them]." Another source in claims that there is a sense that "EA executives fail, only be They've been fortunate that [EA FC] sells makes money that can finance bets." That is a pervasive feeling—one to wonder why axe falls on employees rather than, say, pay bonuses, some of which fund yearly salaries of of employees handily. Take Battlefield for instance, which laid off developers then paid CEO $38 million for success. To further put in Andrew Wilson's yearly pay was worth 305 median salaries at publisher's in 2025. Do you in videogames? From creators of A free weekly videogame industry featuring in-depth news, analysis exclusive interviews To to BioWare for a moment, report also paints ugly of mismanagement of that studio. Predictably, cajoling to try get to make a live service masterpiece. lot of money got wasted down these roads that didn't lead says source, while another writes: "There was a desire to take risks. a desire to do anything was just 'here is what these 14 [User Experience Research] are saying, we've got to do this Like cherry on top of a terrible Vertical Slice's reporting ends quotable summation of entire "That recent email about organisation [sounded like] was written a robot best sums EA. A cold dead that's slowly decaying leadership pilfers cent, rest of us to worry about how we our families." 2026 All upcoming gamesBest Our all-time favoritesFree Freebie festBest Finest gunplayBest RPGs: adventuresBest co-op Better TOPICS Harvey Randall Writer Harvey's history when he begged parents for a World of Warcraft aged 12, though since been cursed Final 14-brain a huge crush on Tia. He made start a writing for websites like Techradar, Dicebreaker, Gamer, Into of course, Gamer. He'll teeth into anything that looks interesting, though he has a spot for RPGs, soulslikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, weird titles. He also plays a shelf of TTRPGs in offline time. ask him what favourite is, he has too many. You confirm your public display before commenting Please then login again, you will then be to enter your display name.
Readers following the wider topic will recognise several familiar threads here, and further updates are expected as more becomes known. Nothing above should be read as speculation beyond what the reporting itself supports.