EA developers have publicly responded to news about the cancellation of their Black Panther game and the closure of developer Cliffhanger Games.
A Lost Opportunity
Details about Black Panther remained scarce after its 2023 announcement, though it was confirmed as a single-player, open-world action-adventure title. The project was being developed by Cliffhanger Games, established in 2023 with talent from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor under the leadership of Kevin Stephens.
In an internal email obtained by IGN, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele explained these decisions were necessary to concentrate resources on high-potential projects. "These difficult choices help focus our creative efforts where we see the strongest opportunities for growth," she stated.
Industry Reactions
Following the announcement, team members shared emotional farewells on social media, celebrating the project they'd built while urging other studios to hire the affected developers.
Concept artist Karla Ortiz reflected: "Our team created something truly extraordinary - detailed, vibrant, and innovative. It's heartbreaking that players will never experience this vision." She praised her colleagues, adding, "Working with this talented group was an incredible honor."
Senior Environment Architect Freddie Lee commented on the team's legacy: "During my time there, I had the privilege of collaborating with phenomenally creative minds like Karla. This team represented absolute excellence in game development." He noted the closure came as "a complete shock."
Game designer Sophie Mallinson highlighted what the industry has lost: "This was a dream team working on what could have been an exceptional Black Panther ARPG incorporating the Nemesis System. Any studio would be lucky to hire these developers."
Rayme Vinson, principal technical designer at Gravity Well and former Respawn developer, shared insights after seeing the project: "When EA canceled the Star Wars FPS, we interacted with the Black Panther team. Their ambition was remarkable - even incomplete, their work showed incredible promise."
Patrick Wren from Respawn's Jedi Survivor team summarized the current climate: "Morale across the industry has never been lower."
EA's Ongoing Restructuring
This cancellation follows multiple rounds of EA reorganizations in recent years. The company recently cut about 300 positions, including 100 at Respawn while shelving a Titanfall project. Earlier restructuring affected BioWare, with some developers reassigned and others laid off.
The 2024 reorganization eliminated 670 positions across EA, including dozens at Respawn. In 2023, BioWave reduced staff by 50, with undisclosed cuts at Codemasters.
EA now focuses on core franchises including Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. Continuing projects include Motive's Iron Man and the next Star Wars: Jedi title, alongside BioWare's Mass Effect development and EA Sports' separate operations.
