Several reliable sources tell InnerBits.com that the Electronic Arts studio in Warrington (located in Northwestern England) will cease operations effective October 16th, 2006. It is rumored that the staff has been offered a relocation to Chertsey — 250 miles away — as an alternative to layoffs.
Little has been said regarding the projects currently in development at EA Warrington; it is as yet unclear whether they will also migrate to Chertsey, or be canned, in part or in whole, as a result of this closure.
Whilst seemingly sudden, this closure has been in the works for several months. For over a year, EA has been planning to relocate their sales and marketing departments from Chertsey to make room for more dev teams. With the recently completed move to Geneva, it is now obvious that EA has also been preparing for this a long time. Once again, I can not help but question the carelessness of this move, as yet another major corporation treats their employees like a material resource to be arbitrarily moved around. For our readers out there unfamiliar with UK geography, a move from Northern England to the South is the cultural and geographical equivalent of a move from Seattle to LA.
This is obviously terrible for all the people who’ve been laid off. I cannot imagine that many of the employees affected will consider the move to Chertsey. We wish them and their families the best of luck.
Damn EA… several of my work colleagues moved there to start new jobs (only weeks ago) and this is how they are treated? If EA have planned this for some months now why the hell have they been recruiting right up until the day of closure? Glad I didn’t take the job there now… but my best wishes go to all those affected.
Left by Sharky on October 17th, 2006