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Electronic Arts Confirms Tiburon Job Losses
by David Jenkins
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January 22, 2009
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As Electronic Arts trims staff at many of its worldwide studios, the company has confirmed reports of job cuts at the EA Tiburon studio in Maitland, Florida -- but has so far failed to specify exactly how many jobs will go.
Speaking to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, EA official Craig Hagen confirmed the reports, which were first relayed on Gamasutra earlier this week, indicating that some reductions may be made by freezing open positions. As well as not providing numbers, he also refused to comment on severance packages.
According to Hagen, the reductions at EA Tiburon, which employs 650 and 700 staff, "would not dramatically alter the work that is done at [sic] there".
"Tiburon remains one of the flagship studios for EA Sports and will continue to be the home base for the leading sports franchises like Madden and Tiger and NCAA Football,” he added.
Reports of cuts first arose earlier in the week, following EA’s announcement that it planned to cut 10 percent of its global workforce (1,000 employees) and consolidate or close down "at least nine" of its studios.
The Black Box studio (Skate, Need For Speed) in Vancouver has already been consolidated with the nearby Burnaby, British Columbia studio. Rumors also suggest restructuring at EA LA (Boom Blox, Command & Conquer), job losses at Mythic Entertainment (Warhammer Online) and a cutting of ties with Pandemic Brisbane (Destroy all Humans!).
The cost-cutting measures are largely credited to the underperformance of key titles last year, as well as the poor global economic environment. "The economy is affecting every industry including ours and we need to tighten our belts and reduce our operating costs," said Hagen.
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