EA layoffs widen after BioWare closure, hitting Respawn, Maxis, Full Circle and EA Motive

EA is closing BioWare and cutting 400 roles, but initially did not say where the remaining cuts beyond BioWare's 50 workers and Ripple Effect would fall. Vertical Slice, citing an anonymous source backed by LinkedIn posts, reports layoffs at Maxis, Ripple Effect, EA Motive, Full Circle and Respawn, with several employees confirming their departures. An EA memo said the unannounced Sims project Project Lotus is paused in favor of Project Evergreen and Full Circle is being downsized. This is EA's first layoff round since its $55bn acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, after pledging $700m in annual cost cuts.