EA staff report low morale and pressure to adopt generative AI
Electronic Arts employees are reporting a sharp decline in workplace morale and increased pressure to adopt generative AI tools following recent company-wide layoffs. According to a report by Vertical Slice, staff members at the gaming giant face mounting workloads after the closure of long-standing studios, including BioWare, while management is strongly urging the integration of AI-driven development processes.
Workload Increases Following Studio Closures
The internal atmosphere at Electronic Arts has deteriorated as the company undergoes significant restructuring. Employees tasked with maintaining development pipelines after recent staff reductions describe a disconnect between executive expectations and the reality of day-to-day operations. One employee noted to Vertical Slice that while leadership frequently uses the phrase “do less, but better,” the practical result for teams has been an expectation to maintain previous output levels with a significantly smaller workforce.
Management Pushes Generative AI Adoption
While the implementation of generative AI is not officially a mandatory policy, employees report that management is aggressively encouraging its use across departments. Staff members have been told that AI integration represents the future of the company, with managers pushing teams to incorporate tools like Claude into their workflows. This directive has met resistance from developers who feel the technology is being forced upon them at the expense of creative morale and team cohesion.
The reliance on AI-generated assets is now a central concern for the future of upcoming titles. With the development of projects like Star Wars Jedi 3 and the Iron Man title currently underway, the impact of these new workflows on production timelines remains uncertain. The report indicates that the combination of mass layoffs and a pivot to AI has significantly disrupted the development of these games, leaving their release schedules in question.
Staff Attrition Threatens Intellectual Property Development
The internal dissatisfaction has reached a point where some employees have expressed a desire to leave the company entirely. This trend of attrition threatens the continuity of major intellectual property development.
For now, the focus remains on whether the current management strategy can reconcile the drive for technological efficiency with the requirements of a stable and functional workforce.
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