Even the creators of Apex Legends, EA’s flagship shooter, have been affected by recent industry layoffs, with several members of the team confirming on social media that developer Respawn Entertainment has been impacted.
While not directly affected, Respawn level designer Aaron Stump acknowledged the layoffs in a post on X. “The Apex team experienced layoffs today,” Stump revealed. “It’s disheartening to see some of my colleagues, whom I’ve collaborated with for nearly three years, being let go. Hopefully, they’ll find new opportunities swiftly.”
Peter Stewart, a senior writer at Respawn, also confirmed the news, expressing his solidarity with those affected. “Tough day at EA,” Stewart shared on X. “Tough day at Respawn. Although I’m grateful to be unaffected, my thoughts are with all those impacted by the recent layoffs. If there’s anything I can do to assist or amplify their situation, I’m committed to doing so. It’s challenging to muster the enthusiasm and creativity to develop games in such circumstances.”
One of the developers affected by the layoffs was Alex Ackerman, the social media lead, who had been with the company for five years. “After 20 seasons of Apex and five years at Respawn, almost to the day, my position has been eliminated, and I’ve been laid off,” Ackerman shared on X. “Contributing to this game and supporting this community has been the highlight of my career and life. Thank you, legends, for everything.”
In February, EA announced plans to lay off approximately 5% of its workforce, affecting around 670 individuals. These layoffs reportedly included the cancellation of a Star Wars first-person shooter that was in development at Respawn. The Respawn layoffs are part of the total of 670 affected employees.
A day before EA’s announcement, Sony disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by over 900 employees across its games business. In January, Microsoft revealed intentions to lay off over 1,900 members of its games division, which encompasses Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and Bethesda.
The layoffs at Respawn and EA are the latest in a series of video game industry layoffs since the beginning of 2024. In just the first two months of the year, an estimated 8,100 developers have lost their jobs, prompting both fans and industry professionals to reflect on the situation and ponder what lies ahead.
