EA shutting down Chicago studio

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 6th 2007 at 2:25PM }

Well, so much for "routine" restructuring. Gamespot reports that monolithic publisher EA has decided to close down its EA Chicago studio. Over 150 employees are affected by the decision, as are future Def Jam games (oh noes!) and a second attempt at a Marvel fighting game. Citing an internal memo from EA Games president Frank Gibeau, the article notes that EA is looking to offer many EA Chicago employees opportunities at its other studios, as well as outplacement assistance.

"We're willing to take risks, make long-term investments, and to support teams and individuals between launches," reads Gibeau's alleged memo. "But each team is responsible for staying on a reasonable path to profitability. Sticking to that strategy is what gives us the financial resources and flexibility to take risks on new projects. Unfortunately, EA Chicago hasn't been able to meet that standard." If left unchecked, EA Chicago was not expected to become profitable until FY 2011 "or later."

Tags: BreakingNews, DefJam, EA, EA-Chicago, Marvel

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

BIFF AHOLE @ Nov 6th 2007 2:31PM

SUCK ON THAT AWESOME ROOFTOP DECK NOW BITCHES

Jerk Face @ Nov 6th 2007 2:36PM

LOL

I don't even know what the fuck that MEANS.

modified @ Nov 6th 2007 2:40PM

Game Head reference.

GRANTED @ Nov 6th 2007 2:31PM

new EA strategy: cut crappy games? i bet it won't last.

Norm @ Nov 6th 2007 2:39PM

If they really are the ones who did the Marvel Fighting game, good riddance. (I mean that in the nicest way possible.)

Oh wait...Def Jam? I take that back. I don't mean it in a nice way.

modified @ Nov 6th 2007 2:41PM

@norm

They didn't make Nemesis. They were working on a new Marvel game that actually looked good.

upz @ Nov 6th 2007 3:06PM

I believe they also made the last Fight Night game, which not only played well, but was arguably the first game to actually look next-gen. Def Jam was ambitious, looked spectacular, but played like crap - a lot like Lair.

Anyway, I saw an interview with these guys a while back and I can see why they were all fired. It was like a bunch of mini Tomonobu Itagakis running around, all trying hard to look rebellious and laid back in their sunglasses instead of working or giving a decent interview. They also had an extravagently cushy office. John Romero would've been proud.

Marty @ Nov 6th 2007 2:39PM

Was it up to individual studios to decide what they devote their time to? What projects they work on?

To me, it doesn't seem like it could be that way, and because of that, it seems awfully harsh to cut an entire studio because it merely isn't profitable at this moment in time. Doesn't EA have any say in what they work on, their deadlines, etc.?

DSR7997 @ Nov 6th 2007 2:41PM

This should generate a lot of comments.

Razorlution @ Nov 6th 2007 2:46PM

So, they're getting rid of a bad studio, EA is finally learning that no one likes those games. Sure it sucks for the people losing their jobs, but Im sure EA has one hell of a severence package.

Game Artist @ Nov 6th 2007 2:55PM

Poor guys. Know alot of folk who work there. Bad news for the entire Chicago dev community.

dsub @ Nov 6th 2007 3:17PM

EA is stupid. These guys made Fight Night Round 3, arguably one of the best games of the current generation.

FOXHOUND @ Nov 6th 2007 3:29PM

Indeed, FNR3 was pretty good... definitely got me on the next/7th generation of gaming bandwagon.

Problem was... that's all they really had to show for themselves in a LONG time. DJIcon was godawful(A- for style points... F- for gameplay), which lead me to wonder why they didn't revert back to the old style. Hell, there was no sign of another FIGHT NIGHT game on the horizon either. Pretty sad, considering how photo-realistic the near-launch release versions of R3 on X360/PS3 were; with that fresh in boxing gamers minds, it would've easily been a high-considerable purchase on first glimpse alone.

Dale @ Nov 6th 2007 3:26PM

The husband of a former co-worker works at EA Chicago, so for her sake, this is sad news.

In terms of their output, though, they weren't really trusted with the greatest franchises on the planet... other than perhaps Fight Night.

gwangi @ Nov 6th 2007 3:41PM

So this is where EA got the money to but Bioware and Pandemic.

MariosInferno @ Nov 6th 2007 3:44PM

Yeah...that whole profitability problem can probably be solved by not releasing gobs and gobs of unmitigated shit, regularly.

Myke @ Nov 6th 2007 3:45PM

This sux...

What about a Fight Night sequel????

pepe @ Nov 6th 2007 6:04PM

that's sad but EA is not the only Gaming company moving from USA to another cheaper country, Gameloft moved most of the production to Mexico and China in the last years and now they have fired most or relocated some of the developers from the Canadian and USA studios.