Further to our earlier exclusive, we’ve now received more information regarding the shutdown of the EA Warrington studio. Our sources have informed us that most if not all of the development staff will not be relocating down south. They will instead look to join other studios in the north.
It appears that many staff members have spent the later part of last week interviewing at multiple studios in the North West. Some studios have even conducted en-masse interviews. This is in stark contrast to EA’s statement that they hoped everyone would relocate. If the closure was made for creative reasons, why is EA so willing to lose so many talented staff members?
Only a cost decision could justify the loss of an entire studio. If you parse the statements of EA spokesperson Tiffany Steckler carefully, you’ll notice that they offer to relocate staff members to studios either in Guildford or in Chertsey. This means that while the project IP will be relocated to Chertsey, the team itself has been disbanded. Why would you offer jobs at separate locations if there was never any intent on keeping the team together? There is no need to be disingenuous here. A spade is a spade, and EA needs to call this move what it actually is: a cost-cutting closure, not a creative decision.
