In a major shake-up, Electronic Arts (EA) has cancelled its upcoming Black Panther video game and is shutting down Cliffhanger Games, the studio that was leading the project. The decision comes as part of a broader wave of job cuts across the company.
The Black Panther game, first announced in July 2023, was to be a third-person action-adventure title set in the Marvel universe. It was one of several Marvel-based games in development at EA, signaling the company’s earlier ambition to expand into licensed superhero titles.
While the number of layoffs this time is reportedly smaller than previous rounds—which affected other major EA teams like Respawn Entertainment, known for Titanfall and the Star Wars Jedi series—roles are still being eliminated across other divisions, including EA’s mobile teams and central operations.
EA has informed employees that these changes are part of an internal strategy to “focus on high-growth opportunities” and prioritize projects with stronger long-term potential.
As of now, the publisher’s core priorities appear to include:
- An upcoming Iron Man game in development at EA Motive
- The next Star Wars Jedi installment from Respawn
- New entries in flagship franchises like The Sims, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and Skate
- Continued efforts in EA Sports titles
- Development of the next Mass Effect, though that project has faced delays and studio downsizing at BioWare
In a move similar to previous restructuring efforts, EA is reportedly working to relocate some of Cliffhanger Games’ team members to other positions within the company.
The cancellation also signals EA’s growing shift away from licensed IPs, a change made public earlier this year when CEO Andrew Wilson announced a move to focus more on original projects and less on games based on external properties that may not align with the company’s evolving goals.
Interestingly, while EA has pulled the plug on its Black Panther game, other Marvel titles, such as Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, developed by another studio and are still in development. This decision has puzzled some fans, especially considering the massive popularity of the Black Panther film, which earned over $1.3 billion at the global box office. Many believe a well-made game based on such a widely loved character could have been a commercial success.
