EA reduced the Ghost Games staff in Guildford, Surrey and puts the latest Need for Speed release on hold. Ghost Games releasedNeed for Speed Rivals this past November, so EA let go of both contractors and full-time employees.
While EA lays off contracted employees, full-time staff can either leave with compensation or stay at Ghost Games to help the development of Visceral's rumored Battlefield title. Polygon states the next Battlefield, codenamed Havana, should release later this year.
Ghost Games originally planned to take on development of the Need for Speed franchise and even saw major parts of the Criterion staff head over to the UK studio. Criterion developed the Burnout and Need for Speed games under EA's publishing hand, which the Criterion says is under their complete creative control.
In regard to the layoffs, an EA spokesperson told Polygon, the team "entered a consultation period for some positions in our Ghost Games U.K. studio."
With the next Need for Speed is reportedly on hold, the Ghost Games staff should assist Visceral Games, the Dead Space creators, with the development of a rumored Battlefield title. The Battlefield rumor first placed Criterion at the head of the development team, but analysts later clarified that Visceral Games will bring a Battlefield in 2014 without the assistance of DICE.
