The lights are on
UPDATE: EA has given us a statement confirming that Pandemic will be closing as part of the publisher's recently announced layoffs. EA says roughly 200 positions will be eliminated as part of this decision. However, a "core team" of Pandemic employees will move over to EALA along with the Pandemic franchises and brand name. In other words, we may still see Pandemic attributed to future games, but it will be a much smaller team focused on "quality, cost management, and schedule integrity."
ORIGINAL STORY: News of the fallout from EA's major layoffs from last week continues to hit. The latest blow is being dealt to Pandemic, the developer of the Mercenaries series and upcoming December release The Saboteur (pictured). 1UP is reporting that the studio is being shut down by EA as confirmed by an anonymous employee of Pandemic.
According to their website, Pandemic employs over 200 people. In addition to the nearly-finished The Saboteur, the team was apparently working on two more unannounced projects. Kotaku is reporting that both The Saboteur and any other IP in the works from Pandemic will be shifted over to EA Montreal.
We've contacted EA seeking official confirmation and will update this story when we hear back. If you've got any information on this developing story, please click the "Submit a News Tip" link on our Contact page.
Noooo! First, Free Radical, Now Pandemic?!?! When will we ever get a Star Wars Battlefront 3?!
This sucks
That really sucks. However, looking at the other side of the coin here, perhaps the new developer who gets the licenses can breathe some new life into Destroy All Humans! and Battlefront 3?
EA has not really changed much. they are still burying companies after Buying them out ,only now they wait a couple years then gut you.
Let them be, we need star wars battlefront 3! (rhyme scheme's pretty tight huh?)
I have enough games to keep me busy, don't need to necessarily buy THE SABOTEUR, unless is wicked awesome... it is sad though that 200 people with degrees will be thrown out on the street in the blink of an eye. Maybe a new company will take some of them in and make an awesome game. They better not be run by EA, that's all I gotta say.
lame
Nothing new from EA I see.
Well their games do suck so maybe it isn't such a big deal and the saboteur doesn't look like anything except for a shooter like assassin's creed.I just wanted a new Battlefront 3
I don't even know what to say... I love Pandemic. I can't beleive EA would do this. Well, maybe I can. But it still doesn't help with the shock
Hopefully they won't let these people go. EA, here's a good tip - keep the people you have and just move them over to EA Montreal. Is that so hard?
You have to wonder if Saboteur had come out when it was supposed to and Mercenaries 2 had lived up to the hype if this would still happen.
Boy EA is shedding dev talent like snake sheds its skin. Who is next on the chopping block. Their acquisition of Playfish is not a good sign. One of the biggest publishers out there is trending towards the casual market aka Facebook ad MySpace tards.
I was really looking forward to Mercenaries 3...
Goodbye Pandemic of old, you will be missed. Hello EA World Dominators, how's the view from up there?
Unfortunatly, Bioware is probably next.
At least we don't need to settle for another mediocore mercenaries title. A Battlefront 3 would have been nice, but I suppose you win some and you lose some. Good luck to those employees who have lost their jobs.
I seriously doubt bioware is in any danger, though they were merged with Mythic, they were definitely the stronger performing of the Bioware/Pandemic duo that EA aquired in 2007. I enjoyed the original Battlefront, and Mercenaries 1 was okay, but best wishes to all those who lost their jobs. It's always sad news to hear. :(
It always sucks to hear someone is losing their jobs.
I have to agree. Mercenaries didn't live up to the hype, and delays for Saboteur couldn't have helped either. You can't blame EA. They are a business, and can't lose to much money.