EA Cancels Black Panther Game and Shuts Down Cliffhanger Games Studio

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Electronic Arts (EA) has decided to cancel its much-anticipated Black Panther video game and shut down its developer, Cliffhanger Games, as part of a restructuring effort to focus on key growth opportunities.

In an internal email, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele informed staff of the closure and cancellations, stating the moves are part of a strategy to “sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.”

Along with Cliffhanger’s closure, EA will lay off several employees from its mobile and central teams, although the exact number remains undisclosed. EA has experienced several rounds of layoffs over the past few years, including a significant reduction earlier this year that affected around 300 individuals.

<p“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 finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles.”

Cliffhanger Games, which was formed to develop the Black Panther title as part of a multi-game deal with Marvel, had been quietly progressing since its announcement in 2023. The studio included key developers known for their work on popular franchises such as Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Despite the cancellation of Black Panther, EA plans to continue developing other titles, including Iron Man, the next Star Wars: Jedi game, and maintain its mobile gaming portfolio. The company will also focus on established franchises like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends.

Earlier this month, EA reported a decline in revenue for the last fiscal year, causing some concerns about the viability of ongoing projects, despite having hired 800 more employees compared to the previous year.

As for the impacts of the cancellation, both EA and Marvel have not commented further on the future of their partnership or the remaining projects under their agreement.