EA's Full Circle studio has announced a round of layoffs, a move that comes shortly after failing to keep their initial promise of not locking map areas in Skate. After assuring that the game would not have payments for zones, they will introduce a system to buy or rent spaces. These cuts are part of a restructuring in the sector, despite guarantees of stability after EA's mega-acquisition.
The Technical Cost of an Evolving Service Model 💻
The change in Skate's monetization suggests a technical reorientation toward a more aggressive game-as-a-service model. Implementing a temporary zone rental system requires complex server infrastructure and user license management. A reduced team could indicate that future development will focus on sustainable content with fewer resources, prioritizing profitability over the promised organic expansion of the open world.
Rent a Zone, Lay Off a Colleague: The EA Equation 🔄
The logic is clear: first, you promise a barrier-free map to win over the community. Then, when everyone is hooked, you announce that, in reality, that famous skatepark costs 300 coins or a weekly rental. And to make the numbers add up, you accompany it with strategic layoffs. A perfect plan, where the most full circle is the one traced by the layoffs around the studio. At least the commitment to the game continues, even if with a team that fits in a half-pipe.