Electronic Arts (EA), the well-known American video game publisher, has reportedly cancelled the development of the much-anticipated Black Panther game, which was being created in collaboration with Marvel Games. Alongside this cancellation, EA has shut down its dedicated game development studio, Cliffhanger Games, which was originally established specifically for the Black Panther project. The news was reported by IGN, a leading gaming news organization.

The Black Panther game was first announced in 2023, with limited information shared publicly. It was described as a single-player game featuring an original storyline crafted in partnership with Marvel Games. Despite the excitement and high expectations surrounding the title, few details about the gameplay or plot had been revealed.

According to an internal communication from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele to company staff, the cancellation of Black Panther, along with other recent project cancellations and workforce reductions, are part of a strategic move by EA to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities." Miele acknowledged that these decisions were difficult, as they impact many employees with whom the company has shared meaningful experiences. She emphasized EA’s commitment to supporting affected employees by helping them find new roles within the company where possible.

While the Black Panther game is cancelled, EA’s overall partnership with Marvel remains intact. IGN reports that the collaboration between Marvel and EA is part of a broader agreement covering three games, which also includes titles based on Iron Man and another project yet to be announced. Moving forward, Motive Studios, another EA subsidiary, will take the lead on Marvel-related game development. In a statement to IGN, Laura Miele confirmed: “Our partnership with Marvel remains strong and our multi-title, long-term collaboration continues.”

The cancellation of the Black Panther game and the closure of Cliffhanger Games come amid a challenging period for EA, marked by multiple rounds of layoffs and project terminations. Throughout 2025, EA has faced several waves of job cuts and cancellations. Just the previous month, the company reportedly laid off around 300 employees, with nearly 100 of those coming from Respawn Entertainment, an EA subsidiary. During this time, EA also scrapped a Titanfall game in development as well as another incubation project.

Earlier in 2025, EA undertook a restructuring of BioWare, one of its prominent development studios, redeploying some staff and laying off others to optimize resources. This was preceded by a significant company-wide restructuring in 2024 that resulted in approximately 670 layoffs, including about two dozen at Respawn. The year before, BioWare had eliminated around 50 positions, and additional undisclosed layoffs reportedly occurred at Codemasters, another EA studio.

These organizational changes reflect EA’s efforts to realign its development focus, reduce costs, and concentrate on projects with the greatest growth potential. While the cancellation of the Black Panther game and layoffs are setbacks, EA appears committed to sustaining its relationship with Marvel and continuing to deliver new content within that partnership. The transition of Marvel projects to Motive Studios indicates that EA still sees substantial value in developing Marvel-themed games and is working to ensure future titles meet market expectations and company goals.

In summary, EA’s cancellation of the Black Panther game and the shutdown of Cliffhanger Games illustrate the company’s ongoing restructuring efforts amid industry challenges. Despite setbacks, EA maintains its strategic alliance with Marvel and aims to focus resources on more promising ventures while managing operational costs through workforce reductions and project reevaluations.