EA cuts jobs across every Battlefield 6 studio in 'realignment:' DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive all hit

EA has laid off an undisclosed number of employees across every studio that worked on Battlefield 6—DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive—just months after the game became the best-selling title in the US in 2025.

The cuts, described internally as a "realignment," were first reported by IGN.The layoffs hit all four studios simultaneously, though EA confirmed each will remain operational and continue supporting the game. "We've made select changes within our Battlefield organization to better align our teams around what matters most to our community," an EA spokesperson said. "Battlefield remains one of our biggest priorities."

Battlefield 6 launched to record numbers—but player retention has been a growing problem

The timing is jarring. Battlefield 6 launched in October 2025 to what EA called "the biggest launch in franchise history," selling over seven million copies in just three days and dethroning long-time rival Call of Duty. EA's Q3 FY26 report noted net revenue exceeding $1.9 billion for the quarter, with Battlefield front and centre.But the game has struggled to hold on to its audience since. On Steam, concurrent players have fallen from a launch peak of 747,440 to a recent 24-hour high of just 67,080.

For context, Arc Raiders—a competing shooter with a lower launch peak—currently sits above Battlefield 6 on active player counts. The game's free-to-play battle royale spinoff, Redsec, has also slipped into Mostly Negative territory on Steam.

EA is mid-acquisition and already dealing with a leadership void in the Battlefield team

The layoffs come at an already turbulent moment for EA. The company is currently being acquired for $55 billion by an investor group that includes Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The deal is expected to close in early 2027. On top of that, longtime Battlefield head Vince Zampella died in a car accident last December, leaving a significant leadership gap.EA's next content drop for Battlefield 6 is a new map arriving March 17.