EA has decided to discontinue its Black Panther project and has closed down Cliffhanger Games

Electronic Arts has terminated the development of the Black Panther game and closed its studio, Cliffhanger Games.

The establishment of Cliffhanger, which was unveiled in July 2023, initially focused on a game centered on Marvel's Black Panther, according to GamesIndustry.biz.

IGN reports that Laura Miele, president of EA Entertainment, informed employees about the decision earlier, citing the company’s intent to concentrate efforts on primary growth prospects.

Though EA has not provided specific details on the number of employees impacted or commented on the studio shutdown, IGN suggests that, in addition to the closure of Cliffhanger and Black Panther's cancellation, personnel from EA's central and mobile divisions have been affected by layoffs.

Expressing the difficulty of the decision, Miele remarked to staff, "These decisions are hard. They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them - including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles."

IGN further reports that Miele's communication indicates a strategic shift towards key proprietary franchises such as Apex Legends, Battlefield, Skate, and The Sims. Nevertheless, assurances were made regarding the company's dedication to upcoming titles, including the next Mass Effect and Iron Man games, as well as a Star Wars: Jedi project, alongside their mobile games.

Just recently, EA eliminated 300 positions, mainly affecting developers at Respawn Entertainment and the EA Experiences team.