Pandemic Studios, the developer behind such games as Star Wars: Battlefront, Destroy all Humans! and Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, will be closing its doors with a core IP team consolidated into Electronic Arts" EA Los Angeles studio.
According to an internal EA memo obtained by Gamasutra, the cuts are part of new round of layoffs and restructuring following EA"s second quarter losses of over $391 million. The publisher plans to cut 1,500 jobs by April 2010.
EA says the studio consolidation is intended to "accelerate our transformation to a direct-to-consumer digital model, and to better manage our cost structure."
"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on," writes Vice President and General Manager of Electronic Arts, Nick Earl in the internal 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."
The number of staffers to be laid off is still unknown, although earlier reports by Kotaku had it at around 200.
Epic"s Cliff Bleszinski as well as Gearbox"s Mikey Neumann said via Twitter that those let go could always apply at their respective Studios.