Electronic Arts (EA) has recently made the decision to shut down two of its popular mobile games: MLB Tap Sports Baseball 23 and F1 Mobile Racing. This move comes as a surprise to many fans who have been enjoying these titles, but it reflects the ever-changing landscape of the gaming industry.
In an announcement posted on EA’s official Twitter account, the company revealed that they would be removing in-app purchases from both MLB Tap Sports Baseball 23 and F1 Mobile Racing. And these games have been removed from the App Store and Play Store, effectively ending their availability for new players. This decision is not unprecedented for EA Sports, as they have previously shut down several other games in the past.
EA to lay off employees following the shutdown
Unfortunately, the closure of these games also means layoffs for some employees at EA. While the exact number of staff affected has not been disclosed by the company, it is clear that this decision has had a significant impact on the livelihoods of those involved. Managing salaries when games are shut down can be a challenging task for any company, especially one as large as EA. However, it is possible that these layoffs are also part of a larger strategy to reallocate resources towards upcoming titles that are expected to perform better in the market.
What’s in store for the future?
Looking towards the future, the fate of MLB Tap Sports Baseball 23 remains uncertain. Originally developed by Glu Mobile, the game became part of EA’s portfolio following their acquisition of Glu Mobile in a multi-billion dollar deal. Glu Mobile released a statement acknowledging the difficulty of the decision to shut down the game and expressing gratitude to loyal players for their support. However, they also admitted that the game did not meet their performance expectations, leading to its closure. As a result, there is no clear indication of whether a Baseball 24 game will be released in the future.
On the other hand, the closure of F1 Mobile Racing, developed by Codemasters, will not affect EA’s partnership with Formula 1 racing as a whole. EA reassured fans that they remain committed to the racing genre, indicating that there may be other racing games in development or planned for release in the future.
So, what are your thoughts on the future of sports gaming franchises following EA’s recent shutdowns? Share in the comment section below!
