How Many Developers Has EA Killed?
Electronic Arts (EA) has been in the news lately due to its questionable business practices, specifically its treatment of game developers. While the company has shut down 14 studios overall, not all of them were acquired externally. In this article, we will explore the history of EA’s acquisition and closure of game development studios, highlighting the ones that were indeed bought before being shut down.
The Beginnings of EA’s Studio Closures
EA’s studio closures can be traced back to the early 2000s when the company began to acquire game development studios to expand its portfolio of intellectual property (IP). At the time, EA saw the value in owning its own studios, rather than relying on third-party developers. This move allowed the company to exercise greater control over its IP and game development process.
The First Casualties
One of the earliest casualties of EA’s studio acquisition and closure strategy was DreamWorks Interactive. Founded in 1995 by Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Interactive was a leading developer of 3D games. In 1996, EA acquired the studio, which then became EA Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the studio struggled to produce successful games, leading to its eventual closure in 2000.
The Next Targets
In the early 2000s, EA acquired several other studios, including Maxis Software, Victory Games, Black Box Games, and EA Salt Lake. While some of these studios continued to produce games under the EA umbrella, others were eventually shut down. Maxis Software, for example, was sold to Electronic Arts in 1997 and became one of the company’s largest studios. However, in 2001, EA announced that it would be consolidating its game development operations, which resulted in the closure of Maxis.
The Pandemic Pandemonium
In 2003, EA acquired Pandemic Studios, a renowned developer of 3D games. Pandemic developed several successful games, including the Battlefield and Mercenaries series. However, in 2012, EA announced that it would be laying off a significant portion of the Pandemic team, and eventually closed the studio.
Visceral’s Demise
In 2008, EA acquired Visceral Games, a studio responsible for developing the Dead Space series. While Visceral continued to produce games under EA, the studio struggled to reproduce the success of its earlier titles. In 2017, EA announced that it would be shutting down Visceral and rebranding the studio’s remaining projects.
The Black Box Conundrum
In 2004, EA acquired Black Box Games, a studio best known for developing the Nascar and Fight Night series. Unfortunately, Black Box struggled to produce successful games, leading EA to shut down the studio in 2013.
The Salt Lake Strategy
In 2002, EA acquired EA Salt Lake, a studio responsible for developing sports games, including the Madden NFL and NCAA Football series. Despite producing successful games, EA ultimately decided to shut down the studio in 2009.
The Modern Era
In recent years, EA has continued to acquire and close game development studios. In 2017, the company announced that it would be shutting down Criterion Games, a studio responsible for developing the Burnout and Need for Speed series. In 2020, EA acquired GameFly, a game rental service that had also developed several games under its own label.
The Big Picture
While EA’s studio closures can be seen as a necessary evil for a company looking to streamline its operations and focus on profitability, they also have significant human impact. Thousands of game developers have been displaced as a result of EA’s consolidation efforts, leading to a talent exodus from the industry.
What’s Next?
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it’s likely that EA will continue to acquire and close game development studios as part of its strategy to adapt to changing market conditions. However, this trend also raises important questions about the future of game development and the role that consolidation will play in shaping the industry.
Timeline of EA’s Studio Closures:
| Studio | Acquisition Date | Closure Date |
|---|---|---|
| DreamWorks Interactive | 1996 | 2000 |
| Maxis Software | 1997 | 2001 |
| Victory Games | 2009 | 2010 |
| Black Box Games | 2004 | 2013 |
| EA Salt Lake | 2002 | 2009 |
| Pandemic Studios | 2003 | 2012 |
| Visceral Games | 2008 | 2017 |
| Criterion Games | 2009 | 2017 |
| GameFly | 2020 | 2020 (still operating as a separate entity) |
Conclusion: How Many Developers Has EA Killed?
In conclusion, EA has shut down a significant number of game development studios over the years. The exact number is difficult to quantify, but it’s safe to say that thousands of developers have been displaced as a result of the company’s consolidation efforts. While EA’s strategy is understandable from a business perspective, it raises important questions about the future of game development and the role that consolidation will play in shaping the industry.