Electronic Arts has cancelled an in-development Star Wars first-person shooter from Titanfall developer Respawn Entertainment. The news arrives as part of a round of mass layoffs at the publisher which saw 670 employees terminated. In addition to closing down the single-player Battlefield game studio Ridgeline Games, EA has now also scrapped Respawn’s potentially exciting first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe.
In a statement published alongside the layoffs news, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele confirmed that the company made the decision to cancel Respawn’s Star Wars first-person shooter, stating that the developer should focus on Star Wars Jedi and Apex Legends instead.
Miele’s statement regarding the cancelled Star Wars shooter reads:
“Respawn’s unique ability to connect with players and create exceptional game experiences is unrivaled in entertainment. As we’ve looked at Respawn’s portfolio over the last few months, what’s clear is the games our players are most excited about are Jedi and Respawn’s rich library of owned brands. Knowing this, we have decided to pivot away from early development on a Star Wars FPS Action game to focus our efforts on new projects based on our owned brands while providing support for existing games.”
“It’s always hard to walk away from a project, and this decision is not a reflection of the team’s talent, tenacity, or passion they have for the game,” Miele added. “Giving fans the next installments of the iconic franchises they want is the definition of blockbuster storytelling and the right place to focus.”
Last September, Cal Kestis actor Cameron Monaghan accidentally let slip that work on Star Wars Jedi 3 had already begun. It’s sad that Respawn, which is primarily known for its excellent first-person shooter games, will never get to release its Star Wars shooter.
Sony also recently laid off 900 employees from across its PlayStation Studios including Guerrilla Games, Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games. Multiple games were also cancelled at PlayStation as a result of the layoffs.
Source: Video Games Chronicle
