Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the shutdown of Ridgeline Games, a Seattle-based studio set up in 2021, with the primary task of developing a solo game mode for the future Battlefield series. The studio began recruiting for its inaugural project described as "a storytelling campaign set in the Battlefield universe".
Recently, it was revealed that the Disneyland studio's co-founder, Marcus Lehto, who is also the co-founder of Halo, left the company due to apparent personal reasons. Lehto responded to the closure news on X last Wednesday, suggesting he was uninformed about the studio's anticipated shutdown.
Gut punched to see EA lay off my team. So many very talented devs who were incredibly valuable to the Battlefield franchise. https://t.co/N3lYSjeO6z
— Marcus Lehto 🇺🇦 (@game_fabricator) February 28, 2024
EA communicated the news of Ridgeline's closure in a statement issued on Wednesday, in conjunction with the announcement of nearly 700 dismissals across the company. Laura Miele, the EA Entertainment President, confirmed the studio's gradual shutdown or "winding down". She revealed the plan to absorb some of the Ridgeline staff into Ripple Effect, a Los Angeles-based studio, currently curating an upcoming multiplayer mode for the Battlefield series. Criterion Games, the organization behind the recent installments of Need for Speed series, will now supervise the next solo project for Battlefield.
Miele expressed her optimistic vision for the Battlefield project, attributing its significant progress to the robust leadership of Vince Zampella and Byron Beede, along with the dedication of their globally located teams. Emphasizing the biggest team ever assembled for the Battlefield franchise, she affirmed EA's readiness to provide an unforgettable Battlefield experience to their fans.
Following Lehto's unexpected exit from the project, immediate measures were taken to prevent disturbances to the ongoing work at the studio, resulting in Criterion's appointment to supervise the single-player development.
Miele concluded the statement announcing the transformation of Ridgeline from a stand-alone studio in Seattle to a collaborative team with Ripple Effect. The revised team will continue to collaborate with various studios, namely, DICE, Ripple, and Criterion, in a bid to create an exceptional Battlefield experience.
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