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EA confirms Maxis cuts

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Aug 26, 2009 4:29 pm PT

Publisher reduces studio payroll "in response to business conditions," reaffirms commitment to Spore franchise.

Earlier today, reports surfaced that Activision had trimmed staff at its subsidiary Raven Software, better known as the studio behind X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Wolfenstein. However, Activision isn't the only top publisher making layoff headlines, as arch rival Electronic Arts confirmed today that it will be making reductions to its workforce at its Spore studio, Maxis.

The Maxis beast just had a few limbs removed.

"Often in the video game industry, the size of a studio fluctuates in response to business conditions," an EA rep said in a statement. "In this case, EA has taken action to reduce the workforce at Maxis as we focus the business and focus Maxis. EA remains fully committed to Spore and other IP within Maxis, with games planned for launch in the next few months, including Spore Hero, coming to the Wii for the first time, and Spore Hero Arena on the DS."

With The Sims franchise fully in the hands of EA's Sims Studio, Maxis has taken the reins of the Spore series. The original game debuted to positive reviews on the PC, DS, and mobile platforms in September 2008, with the Spore Galactic Adventures expansion pack arriving for desktops in June. EA did not indicate the size of the cuts, though it did note that all eligible employees have been offered severance packages and outplacement assistance.

Notably, Maxis founder and game designer Will Wright left the company in April 2009 to form Stupid Fun Club, a venture Wright describes as an "entertainment think tank."

Maxis remains at work on Spore Hero and Spore Hero Arena, which are due to debut October 6 on the Wii and DS, respectively.

79 Comments

  • tat2pap

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 8:01 am PT

    EA is going to get shutdown

  • Jl-95

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:57 am PT

    what about the people that just lost there jobs you guys don't care about that do you.
    and if you don't like EA don't support them it's just that simple .EA is not gonna read this . I like ea always have they make good games

  • s4dn3s5

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 9:12 pm PT

    EA can turn gold into crap

  • Joesocwork

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 6:10 pm PT

    There's great indie games out there like Psychonauts by Majesco and World of Goo by 2-D Boy among many others. But EA has shown that they will farm out to either willing indie or smaller companies, results be hanged, as evidenced by the disastrous Sim City Societies from Tilted Mills

  • Jaster_DCX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 9:57 am PT

    i agree with everyone else's "Anything EA touches turns to crap" a big steaming pile of crap.

  • Jedi_Dad

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 9:43 pm PT

    @snoopy_22. I only partly agree. EA may one day control many of the companies as we know them now, but they will never control the entire market. The more they control, the more you will see a rise in indie games that will make as much or more than EA's games. In addition, the indie companies will have no reason to join EA because they sell direct to gamers on the internet. An because the internet is ubiquitous, they really don't have to worry about marketing costs. Great games sell, regardless of the source. Indie companies will be to EA like a pesky fly at a picnic that you can't kill and won't leave you alone.

  • snoopy_22

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 4:45 pm PT

    If anyone should be getting a cut back it should be EA. No wonder Will Wright left, he saw his dream ever slowly die into the on-going future that EA is bringing to this world where 1 company will own everything. I see in a few years EA will be owners of all major gaming companies then they will slowly but surely turn all those companies into 1 complete EA where everyone is just working for them under there control. I never knew that domination would not only take place in politics and people but also Video Games. Its a very sad time my friends -____-

  • LarkAnderson GameSpot staff member

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 12:27 pm PT

    Always sad to hear this sort of news

  • funkmugumbo

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 10:19 am PT

    The deepest cut EA ever made on Maxis was Sim Cities: Societies.

  • jazilla

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 8:22 am PT

    why all the negative comments? gaming companies like movie studios have NEVER been about being magical job security institutions. they are about one thing: making money. if that doesn't happen, heads roll. if you don't like it, then don't buy games. it's really as simple as that.

  • nurse_tsunami

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 5:10 am PT

    I want SimCity 5 please! I loved Maxis back in the day when it was doing creative sim games all the time. I haven't been as big of a fan since EA bought them. I hope they return to their roots soon!

  • Nikola_Bathory

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 3:41 am PT

    "business conditions" lol, I like how it sounds.
    But why EA fires them, I thought that SPORE was a success?

  • junor69

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 3:26 am PT

    F--U EA every thing you touch turns to crap

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 2:51 am PT

    Possibly the best division of EA gets down sized. Awesome times we live in...

  • CHAOS100

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 12:40 am PT

    Thats what happens when you associate with EA. It's like trying to develop games with a cobra under your desk... it doesn't matter what you do, some time it will kill you off.

  • forhekset

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 11:49 pm PT

    Get back to what you used to do Maxis.

  • Redhunt_86

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 10:46 pm PT

    talents are finally being released from the reigns of EA-Maxis contracts, to be able to join other companies to create games which are actually mature, immersive and treats the gamer with respect!

    no wait....unless they join a Eastern European or Russian game developer, they are going to end up making Wii and DS games. I certainly don't see them jumping over. It's still all about the $$$$.

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