EA cuts jobs across Battlefield 6 studios after record launch

Tuesday 10 March 2026 - 07:20

By: Dakir Madiha

EA cuts jobs across Battlefield 6 studios after record launch

Electronic Arts has laid off an undisclosed number of employees across the four studios responsible for developing Battlefield 6, despite the game’s strong commercial performance and recent industry recognition.

The layoffs, first reported by IGN, affect staff at DICE, Criterion Games, Ripple Effect Studios and Motive Studio. These teams collectively operate under EA’s Battlefield Studios coalition. The company described the job cuts as a “realignment” and said all four studios will continue operating.

In a statement, EA said the restructuring aims to better align the Battlefield teams with player priorities. The company added that the franchise remains a key focus and that development decisions are being guided by community feedback and lessons learned from its Battlefield Labs program.

Battlefield 6 launched in October 2025 to strong reviews and significant commercial success. The game sold more than seven million copies within its first three days, marking the largest launch in the franchise’s history. According to Alinea Analytics, total sales surpassed 20 million copies by December, with more than 26 million players when including the free-to-play RedSec mode.

However, player engagement declined in the months following release. On Steam, the number of active players dropped roughly 65 percent from its peak within a month. User reviews on the platform also shifted from “mostly positive” to “mixed.”

Players cited several concerns, including aggressive monetization, the use of generative AI for cosmetic items, a slow progression system and fewer content updates than expected. The backlash prompted EA to delay the launch of Season 2 in order to incorporate community feedback.

The layoffs come during a turbulent period for the franchise. IGN reported that the job cuts follow the recent death of Vince Zampella, the Battlefield franchise director, in a car accident.

They also occur as EA awaits regulatory approval for a proposed $55 billion buyout led by a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The deal, expected to close between April and June, would represent the largest all-cash take-private acquisition in history. EA has told employees internally that the layoffs are not related to the pending transaction.

The restructuring comes only days after Battlefield 6 was named Game of the Year in the United Kingdom at the 2026 UKIE Video Game Awards. The judging panel praised Criterion for its technical ambition and creative leadership.

The timing has drawn attention within the industry. Alexia Christofi, a producer at DICE, recently noted that the team’s size was already limiting its ability to deliver new multiplayer maps at the pace players expect.