EA reportedly cancels its ‘Black Panther’ game and shut down the studio behind it, Cliffhanger Games.
The project, which was officially announced in 2023, was still untitled and hadn’t revealed much beyond its early development status. But now, according to IGN, it’s been shelved entirely as part of a broader shift within EA.
The news came via an internal email from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele. In it, she acknowledged the tough nature of the decision. “These decisions are hard,” she said. “They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them-including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles.”
Though the number of affected employees wasn’t confirmed, the layoffs at Cliffhanger are reportedly fewer than the 300 roles cut from Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams just last month. Still, the loss of an entire studio and a high-profile Marvel title signals a significant pivot for the publisher.
Cliffhanger Games was a relatively new studio, created specifically to work on the ‘Black Panther’ title. The game was meant to be a single-player, third-person action-adventure experience, focusing on T’Challa’s legacy and Wakandan storytelling. There was some early buzz about it offering players the chance to shape the Black Panther’s path, but it never made it far enough for gameplay to be shown.
Miele explained the decision was part of EA’s new strategy to “sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.” In simple terms, the company is cutting projects that might not pay off quickly or broadly enough and doubling down on what it knows will deliver.
Moving forward, EA says it’s focusing on its own core franchises. That includes Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. These titles are not only well-established but also have live-service components and big audiences, something EA seems increasingly keen on prioritizing.
Despite the Marvel game’s cancellation, EA isn’t fully walking away from licensed titles. Its Iron Man game, being developed by Motive Studio, is still in the works. So is the next chapter in the Star Wars Jedi series, following the success of ‘Jedi: Survivor.’
For fans hoping to step into the boots of the Black Panther in a next-gen game, it’s definitely disappointing news. EA’s decision reinforces just how fragile game development can be, especially when it comes to brand-new studios and unproven concepts, even with a big name like Marvel attached.
EA hasn’t made an official public announcement yet, but if IGN’s report is accurate, the silence may be intentional. The company seems to be streamlining heavily, cutting anything that doesn’t fit its future roadmap. For now, that roadmap leans hard into proven brands and franchises that can deliver long-term engagement.
In short, the Black Panther game is dead, Cliffhanger Games is gone, and EA is staying in its comfort zone, for better or worse.
