Battlefield 6, 2025’s Top-Selling Game, Faces Workforce Reductions

Battlefield 6 emerged as the top-selling premium game in 2025, according to Circana. However, this success didn’t shield the development team from layoffs. Reports indicate that Electronic Arts has let go of an unspecified number of developers across the Battlefield Studios, including those at the franchise’s original creator, Dice.

On March 9, it was reported that EA had informed affected employees that these layoffs were part of a broader “realignment” strategy across all studios involved with Battlefield 6. Despite the cuts, all four studios—Dice, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios—are expected to remain operational and continue supporting the live-service seasons and updates for Battlefield 6.

EA stated, “We’ve made select changes within our Battlefield organization to better align our teams around what matters most to our community. Battlefield remains one of our biggest priorities, and we’re continuing to invest in the franchise, guided by player feedback and insights from Battlefield Labs.”

Launched last October, Battlefield 6 quickly became one of the year’s standout titles. Circana reported that EA’s gritty military shooter outperformed even Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in 2025, making it the best-selling premium game in the U.S. However, this success did not guarantee job security for the development team.

In 2025, it was noted that EA invested over $400 million into Battlefield 6, with some developers revealing that the company had set ambitious targets, aiming for 100 million players. In contrast, Battlefield 1, the previous franchise leader, attracted around 30 million players. Many developers expressed that these expectations felt unrealistic and nearly unattainable. This might shed light on the layoffs, despite the game’s strong launch. Another contributing factor could be the significant deal involving Saudi Arabia.

Currently, EA is in the process of being acquired by a consortium that includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. Announced in September, the deal is valued at $55 billion, and shortly after its announcement, EA assured that there would be no “immediate changes” to its workforce. The acquisition has already received approval from EA’s shareholders.

Update: 3/9/26, 1:00 p.m. ET: Added comment from EA about the layoffs.