EA Layoffs: Respawn, Motive, Maxis Cut After BioWare [Confirmed]

Electronic Arts has expanded its publisher-wide restructuring by laying off 400 developers across flagship studios including Respawn Entertainment, EA Motive, Maxis, and Full Circle, following the immediate shutdown of RPG powerhouse BioWare in early 2026. According to verified reports from Eurogamer, while EA originally confirmed 50 roles were eliminated through the shutdown of BioWare, the remaining 350 job cuts are now hitting several marquee development teams. Respawn Entertainment, the primary architect behind Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi, suffered reductions alongside EA Motive, the studio handling the Iron Man project and co-developing Battlefield. Additional downsizing impacted Maxis and Full Circle, the Vancouver team currently building Skate. This massive contraction follows the devastating [BioWare Studio Closed: EA Cancels Mass Effect 5 [Confirmed]](/news/bioware-closed-ea-cancels-mass-effect-5) announcement, deepening industry scrutiny after severe community backlash highlighted in 217G's report on the [BioWare Shutdown: Industry Outrage Over EA Move [Confirmed]](/news/bioware-closure-gaming-industry-reaction). EA management maintains the cuts streamline production toward owned intellectual property and high-margin live services, though internal sources voice serious alarm over depleted support pipelines for upcoming AAA release targets.