EA imposes return to the office and causes internal uncertainty

After cutting around 300 employees in April 2025 — including 100 layoffs at Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall — Electronic Arts is once again stirring controversy with the imposition of a mandatory partial return to the offices policy. The new directive, communicated internally via obtained emails, directly impacts employees who are currently working remotely, many of whom say they are "confused" and "concerned" about the change.

The new policy establishes that all employees living within 48 km (30 miles) of an EA office must adopt a mandatory hybrid work schedule, with a minimum physical presence of three days per week. Those living beyond this radius will be considered remote, unless their role is formally designated as "On Site" or "Hybrid".

Employees who currently have authorization for full remote work have had their situation classified as temporary: "current exemptions for remote work will be terminated within the next 3 to 24 months," according to internal sources who spoke anonymously.

Among the main reasons cited for resistance to the new policy are medical conditions, long distances to the office, and responsibilities with young children. The most pressing concern is that this restructuring represents an indirect move towards forced layoffs, informally known as "quiet layoffs" — a way to reduce the workforce without announcing direct layoffs.

In a statement, CEO Andrew Wilson justified the measure by saying:

"In-person work results in a kinetic energy that fuels creativity, innovation, and connection, often resulting in unexpected breakthroughs that lead to amazing experiences for our players."

The statement was met with skepticism by the community and the employees themselves, especially considering the company's recent history. In 2024, Andrew Wilson and president Laura Miele together received around US$ 40 million in compensation, while the company reduced its global workforce by approximately 670 employees — almost 5% of the total.

Additionally, EA also announced the cancellation of several licensed projects, as part of a strategy to focus on proprietary IPs and live services, reinforcing the perception that the company is in a broader and continuous restructuring cycle.

The return-to-office policy — which affects studios and areas like BioWare, DICE, Motive, and EA Sports — joins a scenario where major companies in the industry continue to test the boundaries between flexibility and control. The measure may impact talent retention, especially in technology and creative areas, traditionally associated with more flexible remote work arrangements since the pandemic.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether the return to "kinetic energy" will indeed bring the promised advancements — or just more internal instability for one of the biggest publishers in the industry.