Respawn Has Quietly Canceled a Multiplayer FPS Incubation Challenge

Apex Legends developer Respawn has canceled an incubation venture this week, and laid off an unknown variety of people engaged on it within the course of.

This information was first reported by Insider Gaming, sourcing a now-unavailable LinkedIn submit from a former manufacturing coordinator who wrote that “The unannounced incubation venture I used to be part of for the previous 12 months was canceled this week, so I’m becoming a member of the group of extraordinarily proficient and sort individuals within the video games business trying to find a brand new function.”

IGN has been in a position to independently verify that Respawn has canceled an unannounced incubation venture. IGN understands this was a multiplayer FPS (for which no less than one job posting was listed final 12 months) spun off by members of an inner group that was previously engaged on a Star Wars FPS at Respawn, which was itself canceled final 12 months. IGN may verify that plenty of people have been laid off as a part of the cancellation. Although we’re unable to substantiate the precise quantity, it has been characterised as “small” by a supply acquainted with the venture. IGN has additionally recognized no less than one particular person related to the venture who has clarified on LinkedIn that their departure was voluntary.

This continues an ongoing development of canceled tasks, layoffs, and restructuring throughout EA, which kicked off in 2023 with the elimination of fifty jobs at BioWare and an unknown quantity extra at Codemasters. The culling continued nearly precisely one 12 months in the past when the corporate laid off 670 staff company-wide and shuttered a number of tasks, together with the aforementioned Star Wars FPS. As a part of these cuts, round two dozen staff at Respawn misplaced their jobs. Since then, EA has restructured BioWare, shifting builders to different tasks internally and shedding one other unknown variety of key people.

IGN has reached out to Digital Arts for remark.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You’ll find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Obtained a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.