EA Salt Lake Suffers Layoffs

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
45,698
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EA Salt Lake Suffers Layoffs


Electronic Arts has confirmed that an increased focus on mobile development has led to layoffs at its Salt Lake studio.

EA Salt Lake, which began life as Headgate Studios all the way back in 1992, isn't one of the highest-profile of Electronic Arts studios. Its repertoire includes a bunch of Tiger Woods PGA Tour games, Littlest Pet Shop, Nerf N-Strike and a bunch of Sims 3 expansions. It's also been involved in mobile game development, and a decision to focus more exclusively on that means that staffing levels are being reduced.

"EA Salt Lake is becoming largely focused on mobile development, including The Sims and other projects. Recent shifts unfortunately resulted in the reduction of a few teams," the publisher said in a statement. "As we look to match skills with opportunities, some staff will be offered other positions at EA, while others will leave the company."

Electronic Arts recently announced that a faster-than-expected decline in games for previous-gen consoles led to a 12 percent revenue drop in its third quarter, but its mobile business was up 26 percent year over year and 19 percent over the previous quarter. December was also the company's biggest month ever for mobile, with a total of 71 million game downloads from the App Store and Google Play, which EA said made it the top mobile publisher worldwide.

EA declined to say how many people would be let go as a result of the change.



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Eliwood10

New member
Feb 4, 2013
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It's such a waste to focus on the mobile game market, especially in Salt Lake. There's a TON of amazing talent here, plus three universities with excellent animation and gaming programs in only 50 mile radius. Studios are popping up all the time and working on some cool projects. The gaming market is exploding over here... and EA is shrinking it.
 

Yoshi4102

New member
Mar 10, 2012
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Eliwood10 said:
It's such a waste to focus on the mobile game market, especially in Salt Lake. There's a TON of amazing talent here, plus three universities with excellent animation and gaming programs in only 50 mile radius. Studios are popping up all the time and working on some cool projects. The gaming market is exploding over here... and EA is shrinking it.
Maybe the talent will be put to better use then. They clearly weren't using them for much other than some low profile games and expansions.
 

Alpha Maeko

Uh oh, better get Maeko!
Apr 14, 2010
573
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Yeah, I was the lead gameplay designer for a golf game... i can has job?

Poor souls probably will be better off finding a place that'll put their skills to better use.
 

Strazdas

Robots will replace your job
May 28, 2011
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Eliwood10 said:
It's such a waste to focus on the mobile game market, especially in Salt Lake. There's a TON of amazing talent here, plus three universities with excellent animation and gaming programs in only 50 mile radius. Studios are popping up all the time and working on some cool projects. The gaming market is exploding over here... and EA is shrinking it.
EA has one goal - money. Currently mobile market is far more profitable than other gaming markets combined. so in their eyes - its not a waste.
 

FalloutJack

Bah weep grah nah neep ninny bom
Nov 20, 2008
15,489
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Gaming design talent of Utah, hear me well! Leave EA simultaneously and start your own company! It will be fun!