EA Cancels Black Panther Game and Closes Developer Cliffhanger
EA has canceled its Black Panther game, the second installment in a planned Marvel trilogy, and is closing developer Cliffhanger Games. The move aligns with EA's strategy to focus on projects with the highest growth potential. Staff affected are being considered for other roles within EA. The Iron Man and a third Marvel game remain in development.
Electronic Arts (EA) has officially canceled its highly anticipated Black Panther game, which was being developed by the new studio Cliffhanger Games. This project was intended to be the second installment in a trilogy of standalone Marvel titles under EA’s publishing umbrella. The cancellation marks a significant pivot in EA’s strategic focus.
Laura Miele, EA Entertainment president, confirmed in an internal email that the Black Panther game was scrapped and that Cliffhanger Games is shutting down. While the exact number of employees impacted is not disclosed, EA is actively working to reassign affected staff to other projects within the company where possible.
This decision is part of a broader strategy announced by EA CEO Andrew Wilson in early 2024 to move away from developing licensed intellectual properties (IPs) that may not succeed in the evolving gaming market. However, this shift does not affect EA’s ongoing Star Wars projects, including Bit Reactor’s Zero Company and Respawn Entertainment’s third Jedi game.
Details about the Black Panther game have been scarce since its announcement two years ago, but a 2024 job listing suggested it was planned as a single-player, open-world experience. The game was part of a three-title collaboration between EA and Marvel, alongside an Iron Man game developed by Motive and a third unannounced project, both of which are reportedly still in development.
The closure of Cliffhanger Games and cancellation of the Black Panther title underscore the challenges of developing licensed games in a rapidly changing industry. EA’s focus now is on concentrating creative efforts and resources on projects with the greatest potential for growth and success.
For developers and publishers, this serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning game development with market trends and consumer expectations. Strategic portfolio management and agility in project selection can be the difference between thriving and shuttering studios.
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