Electronic Arts has officially canceled its in-development Black Panther video game and shut down Cliffhanger Games, the studio behind the title. The news was shared internally by Laura Miele, president of EA Entertainment, who cited a need to focus on “the most significant growth opportunities.”
The decision is part of a larger wave of restructuring across EA. Alongside Cliffhanger’s closure, employees in the mobile and central teams are also being laid off. While EA declined to share exact numbers, sources indicate this round affects fewer workers than the 300 roles eliminated in March from Respawn and EA’s Fan Care division.
“These decisions are difficult,” Miele wrote in her staff memo. “They impact people we’ve worked with and learned from. We’re committed to supporting them, including placing them in other roles at EA.”
Despite repeated cuts, EA’s total workforce has grown by about 800 since March 2024, according to data from Game File.
Looking ahead, EA plans to concentrate on a core slate of franchises: Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, and Skate. The company will continue investing in the Iron Man game at Motive Studio, the upcoming Star Wars Jedi sequel, and Mass Effect, which remains under development at BioWare. The mobile division, though downsized, will remain active.
Announced in 2023, the canceled Black Panther game was part of a multi-title deal between EA and Marvel, which also includes Iron Man and a third unannounced project. EA confirmed its partnership with Marvel remains intact. “Our collaboration with Marvel is strong,” Miele said.
Cliffhanger Games, founded in 2023, was led by Kevin Stephens, former head of Shadow of Mordor. The studio aimed to create a single-player, open-world adventure centered on the legacy of the Wakandan hero. No gameplay footage was ever released.
This marks yet another chapter in EA’s recent pattern of cancellations and layoffs. In 2025 alone, the company scrapped a Titanfall project and laid off nearly 100 people at Respawn.
The previous year, over 670 jobs were cut during a sweeping corporate restructure. Meanwhile, EA’s new return-to-office mandate has raised concerns among remote employees about job security.
EA declined to comment further. Marvel has yet to respond.
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