Pandemic to Close?

[Flawless]

IGN

Pandemic Studios is rumoured to be shutting its doors today, with EA believed to be announcing the closure of the California-based developer today.

Founded in 1998, Pandemic Studios came to the fore with the 2004 release of Full Spectrum Warrior, going on to make the first two Star Wars: Battlefront games and to birth the Mercenaries series.

Recently the studio's productions have been more troubled, from the widely panned Lord of the Rings: Conquest to the cancelled Dark Knight project, which bought down the Australian arm of the developer.

Its most recent game, The Saboteur, is due towards the end of the year.

Reports are suggesting that EA will be laying off almost all of the 200 staff members at the Los Angeles office, continuing a series of cutbacks currently being enforced by the publisher.

We're currently awaiting word back from both Pandemic and EA.

[jmood88]

Re: Pandemic to Close?

I really hope this isn't true. The Saboteur looks great and the Mercenaries series was good(even though the second one shouldn't have been delayed so long).

[BlueNGold]

Re: Pandemic to Close?

This is too bad. Like jmood said, the Mercenaries games were good even though the 2nd one could have been a lot better if it wasn't for all the delays.

I forgot they were supposed to make a Dark Knight game. I wish that would've came out.

[Burns11]

Re: Pandemic to Close?

Can't say I'm surprised given recent history and the loss of any hope for the Battlefront license that garnered the majority of their sales.

Makes you kind of wonder about Saboteur though, whether they really executed the game up to snuff. No doubt that EA doesn't like all these separate studios, so Pandemic was destined to be absorbed, but if Saboteur was good you would think they'd be absorbed into EA: Los Angeles rather than being dissolved outright.

[Burns11]

Re: Pandemic to Close?

I forgot they were supposed to make a Dark Knight game. I wish that would've came out.

From all reports, you really don't, it was allegedly bad enough to not only get canceled but to end up shutting down that entire australian branch of Pandemic.

[Flawless]

Re: Pandemic to Close?

Confirmed: EA Closes Pandemic Studios, Says Brand Will Live On

An internal Electronic Arts memo confirms that Pandemic Studios was shut down today with a "core IP team" being moved to Electronic Arts' Los Angeles office. Among those let go were the studio's top three employees: Andrew Goldman, formerly the studio's CEO; Josh Resnick, formerly the studios president; and Greg Borrud, vice president of product development

"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on," Nick Earl, EA Games Label Senior Vice President, wrote in the memo. "In the months ahead, we will announce plans for new games based on Pandemic franchises.

"This type of change can be difficult. But the situation calls for us to act decisively, to take control of our destiny and to run a stronger, more focused development operation. That's how we will continue to make great games in our LA studios."

Earl said that the move was made to "improve our cost structure, ensure quality and build schedule integrity for this studio."

Electronic Arts confirmed that about 200 people were let go.

Also said to be affected heavily are Spore and former-Sims studio EA Maxis, social network gaming acquisition Rupture Studios, and Mercenaries and The Saboteur creators Pandemic Studios LA. Those development studios are said to be hit with substantial layoffs, according to a source, with remaining employees relocated to EA headquarters in Los Angeles and Redwood Shores.

[Pokes]

Re: Pandemic to Close?

How many studios now has EA bought out and shut down?