EA's Need for Speed studio has massive layoffs; leaked memo to rest of staff |
News has come in that Electronic Arts' restructuring plans have hit their Black Box studio, with 200 of their 350+ staff laid off.Black Box is the studio behind the Need for Speed series and the recently released Skate 2. The rest of the staff that remained in the studio will be folded into EA's Burnaby studio.
Kotaku managed to get a hold of a copy of the memo sent to the remaining employees. It is supposedly written by EA Canada's general manager, Rory Armes, though it's authenticity is unconfirmed. (Certain info left out so you don't go stalking them):
From: Armes, Rory
Subject: Today at Black Box
Importance: High
A short time ago, a number of your colleagues were asked to attend a session to discuss important news at Black Box. Unfortunately, the purpose of that meeting is to inform those employees that their positions at Black Box have been eliminated.
The rest of our energy and focus for today is solely devoted to the people affected by this news. Rest assured that we will be doing everything we can to treat our affected colleagues with dignity and respect, and help them through this transition. It's a tough, emotional day for all of us, but obviously much more so for those who received the news today.
So we're asking that you take the rest of the day off and leave the studio as soon as possible. This will allow us to meet the needs of the affected employees and put all our resources into helping them through this challenging day.
We will regroup as a team tomorrow morning at 10am in the XXXX Ballroom at the XXXX Hotel, XXXX. The quickest way to access the meeting room is to enter the building from the XXXX.
We know you have lots of questions, but we ask that you save them until tomorrow morning. We'll have a good discussion about Black Box and our future at that time.
Rory/Brett/Marcel
More carnage from Electronic Arts:
Via Kotaku
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Comments [refresh]
You'd think that with all the awful games EA puts out, that their few good franchises (like nfs) would be the last teams to get layoffs.
Lately the NFS franchise hasn't been that good either. :/
You've gotta be kidding me. The NFS franchise is one reason I REALLY dislike EA so much. They took an awesome series, from HP2, cashed in on the stupid street tuner craze (although UG1, 2, and MW were mostly ok), and then had the ridiculous Carbon, followed by ProStreet, one of the WORST racing/driving games I've ever played, and Undercover is so retarded, the NFS studio DESERVES to be fired.
Very good point you make. I liked how all the original Need For Speed games Ea made were very progressive and fun. I was relunctant about the tuner versions but I picked Underground, and it was pretty good. I later picked up Underground 2 and then Most Wanted. Most Wanted i so far my favorite of the series. I rented Carbon and didn't care for it much. I haven't even tried Prostreet or Undercover because of the reviews. I really hope EA gets their act together and release a great, fun and engaging Need For Speed game in the future.
sales have slowly declined since most wanted with the series ea have cancelled the nfs series because of this which will result in 1 outcome we wont see nfs again unless ea sells the rights to someone else anyone who knows what ea is like will know this.