EA Axes Black Panther Game, Devs Devastated

EA developers have reacted publicly to the cancellation of the Black Panther game and the closure of developer Cliffhanger Games.

Following its 2023 announcement, few details about Black Panther emerged, though it was confirmed to be a single-player, open-world action-adventure title. Development had been handled by Cliffhanger Games – a studio established in 2023 by former Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor developers under Kevin Stephens's leadership.

In an internal email obtained by IGN, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele explained these decisions, along with other recent cancellations and layoffs, aim to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities."

"These decisions are hard," Miele continued. "They affect people we've worked with, learned from, and shared meaningful experiences with. We're committed to supporting affected staff, including helping them find new positions within EA."

Developers impacted by the studio closure quickly took to social media to share their reactions and encourage other companies to hire their former colleagues.

Concept artist Karla Ortiz expressed her disappointment: "Our team was creating something truly special – detailed, rich, and beautiful. It's heartbreaking knowing players will never experience it." She praised her teammates, calling it "an honor to work with such talented individuals."

Senior Environment Architect Freddie Lee reflected on his experience: "Working alongside artists like Karla was inspiring – this team represented the absolute best. The closure came as a complete shock."

Game designer Sophie Mallinson highlighted the project's potential: "This was truly a dream team. Any studio would be lucky to hire from this pool of talent. It's especially disappointing knowing we'll never see their take on a Black Panther RPG featuring the Nemesis System."

Rayme Vinson, now at Gravity Well, shared insights after collaborating with Cliffhanger: "What they were building showed genuine ambition and innovation. Even at 25% completion, I was genuinely excited to eventually play their vision."

Patrick Wren from Respawn offered a broader perspective: "Morale across the company has reached concerning lows lately."

These cuts follow multiple EA restructuring efforts in recent years. Last month saw approximately 300 layoffs, including 100 at Respawn alongside the cancellation of a Titanfall project. Earlier this year, BioWare underwent reorganization with some staff reassigned and others let go. Significant 2024 restructuring affected 670 employees company-wide, while 2023 saw reductions at both BioWare (50 positions) and Codemasters (undisclosed number).

EA is now concentrating resources on core franchises: Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. Other confirmed ongoing projects include Motive's Iron Man game, the next Star Wars: Jedi title, mobile operations, and BioWare's Mass Effect development. The EA Sports division (handling FC and Madden) operates separately from EA Entertainment.