EA reorganizes post-NBA Elite cancellation

There's little doubt that the cancellation of NBA Elite was a black eye for the EA Sports brand, both metaphorically and financially. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimated the elimination of the game cost Electronic Arts up to $60 million. There's also the not-so-small manner of prestige, since rival 2K Sports' NBA 2K11 was the sole pro basketball sim on the market this year (although EA's NBA Jam scooped up some arcade-style gamers' dollars).

One result of the cancellation was a series of layoffs at EA Canada. Now, according to a report on 1Up, one of the positions apparently eliminated was that of EA Canada's general manager, Moira Dang, who has apparently parted ways with the publisher. Another was that of EA Tiburon head Philip Holt, who is "considering other options within the company," according to an EA spokesperson.

Speaking with GameSpot, an EA spokesperson offered the following statement:

We're making organizational changes to our development team at EA SPORTS that will be better for the franchises and better for our people. We continue to proactively evolve our team to better position ourselves with improved product quality and growth in revenue for our shareholders, to share technology and lower our development costs, and to pioneer new innovation in digital experiences for our consumers.

As part of this transition, we have eliminated the site-based GM roles at EAC and Tiburon. Moira Dang, GM at EAC, has decided to pursue new opportunities outside of EA and will be leaving the company. Philip Holt, GM at Tiburon, is considering new options within the company.

There are now a number of GMs leading Strategic Business Units within EA Sports. These report to Andrew Wilson, SVP of EA Sports who is responsible for the EA Sports development organization.