Overview
- EA told staff in a memo Wednesday that it will bring together Respawn and DICE to collaborate on a future project, and multiple outlets report that project is Star Wars: Battlefront 3 rather than a different studio handling the game.
- The internal memo also confirmed the permanent closure of BioWare, the cancellation of the next Mass Effect title, and about 400 layoffs across EA as part of a wider restructuring.
- The Battlefront name carries sensitive history because Battlefront II’s 2017 launch relied on loot boxes and pay‑to‑win systems that prompted heavy backlash and policy changes, a legacy that will shape player expectations for any new entry.
- EA’s move pairs DICE’s recent Battlefield 6 live‑service work with Respawn’s multiplayer and Star Wars experience, and sources say the decision aims to leverage both studios’ tech and expertise for a large online shooter.
- The change is one of EA’s first major shifts since its acquisition by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, and it could steer the publisher toward more live‑service shooter projects while directly affecting hundreds of employees.