EA Pulls the Plug on Black Panther Game

Introduction Of Black Panther Game

Electronic Arts has officially canceled its upcoming Black Panther video game and is shutting down the studio behind it—Cliffhanger Games. The studio, which was only established in 2023 with the sole purpose of creating the superhero title, has been closed as part of EA’s broader restructuring efforts.

The news comes straight from a company-wide memo by EA President Laura Miele, obtained by IGN. In it, Miele said EA is taking these steps to “sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.” Black Panther Game

Another Marvel Project Bites the Dust

The cancellation of Black Panther is a major blow to EA’s partnership with Marvel. While the collaboration was originally announced to include at least three games, only one remains officially in the pipeline: a single-player Iron Man title being developed by Motive Studio. Black Panther Game

When Cliffhanger Games and the Black Panther project were unveiled, EA said the title was still in early development and described it as a “definitive and authentic Black Panther experience.” Cliffhanger was led by Kevin Stephens, a veteran of Monolith Productions known for his work on Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. The team included developers with experience on major franchises like Halo, God of War, and Call of Duty. Black Panther Game

It’s unclear just how far development had progressed before the plug was pulled. Black Panther Game

Layoffs Continue Across EA

The closure of Cliffhanger comes alongside another wave of layoffs. EA is letting go of more employees across its mobile and central teams, although exact figures haven’t been made public. This follows a round of layoffs earlier this year in April that cut approximately 300 jobs and reportedly killed a new Titanfall project. Black Panther Game

“These decisions are hard,” Miele wrote. “They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them—including helping them find new roles within EA.” Black Panther Game

This isn’t the first major layoff from EA in recent memory. In 2024, the company cut nearly 700 jobs and expressed uncertainty about future investments in licensed intellectual properties, prompting speculation that its Marvel deal might be on shaky ground. That speculation appears to have been justified.

What’s Next for EA?

Despite these setbacks, EA says it’s doubling down on its biggest franchises. Going forward, the publisher will focus on titles like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. The upcoming Iron Man game and the next Star Wars Jedi installment remain in development. Long-term projects like the next Mass Effect from BioWare are also still on track.

EA’s mobile portfolio remains intact, and its massive sports lineup—including EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, College Football, and NHL—continues to be a core pillar of its business.

Cuts Amid Profit

Interestingly, these drastic cuts come at a time when EA is still making big money. In the last quarter alone, the company earned $1.9 billion in revenue with a net profit of $254 million. However, on a year-over-year basis, total revenue dipped slightly—from $7.562 billion to $7.463 billion—while profit slid from $1.273 billion to $1.121 billion.

Despite the layoffs, EA’s total employee count is actually up. As of March 2025, EA had more than 800 additional employees compared to the same time last year.

A Tough Road Ahead

While EA continues to post healthy profits, the string of cancellations, studio closures, and layoffs paints a sobering picture of the shifting priorities in the gaming industry. For fans looking forward to donning the Black Panther suit, this cancellation stings—and for the developers at Cliffhanger, it marks a sudden end to a studio that barely had time to find its footing.

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