- Image from Titanfall 2 courtesy of Respawn Entertainment

Respawn Axes Two Brilliant Games, Shockingly Lays Off Nearly 100 Employees

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By James Clark | Last updated Apr 30, 2025 1:07 PM ET

On April 29, 2025, Respawn Entertainment, the studio known for Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, dropped some big news. They canceled two early-stage projects and laid off about 100 employees. This shakeup is tied to a bigger restructuring by its parent company. Electronic Arts (EA) has cut 300–400 jobs across its studios. The canceled games? A Titanfall-based extraction shooter and a fresh IP led by Titanfall director Steve Fukuda. Respawn is sticking with its big titles, but fans and industry folks are left worried and upset by the news.

Canceled Projects

Respawn pulled the plug on two games that were just getting started, choosing to focus on their heavy hitters. The first, codenamed R7, was an extraction shooter in the Titanfall world. Think Escape from Tarkov vibes. Players grab the loot and fight to get out, mixing Titanfall’s speedy pilots and mechs into the chaos, according to PC Gamer. The second was a new IP from Steve Fukuda, a guy who’s shaped Titanfall and Call of Duty games at Infinity Ward. We don’t know much about it, but it was Respawn’s shot at something totally original, per Dexerto. Scrapping both shows they’re doubling down on Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi instead.

Layoffs and Team Impact

The layoffs hit Respawn hard, with around 100 people (developers, QA testers, and publishing teams for Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi) losing their jobs. It’s part of EA’s wider cuts of 300–400 roles, a sign of tough times in gaming, says GamesIndustry.biz. Respawn promised “meaningful support” for those affected, like helping them find spots elsewhere in EA. Even with the cuts, they’re pushing forward on a Star Wars Jedi sequel and Apex Legends’ 25th season. They’re also helping Bit Reactor with Star Wars: Zero Company, keeping their Star Wars ties aliv,e according to Gamerant.

Community Reactions

Titanfall fans are not happy. Social media, especially X, lit up with frustration over the extraction shooter’s cancellation with many begging for Titanfall 3 instead. People are mad EA keeps leaning on cash cows like Apex Legends while sidelining other series they love per Nintendo Life. It’s not just about games. Layoffs are a sore spot. With 1,800 gaming jobs lost in 2025 alone. Respawn’s focus on safe bets makes sense for EA’s wallet, but it’s leaving some fans feeling ignored.

Respawn’s big moves with canceling two games and cutting nearly 100 jobs hit the studio and its community hard. Sticking with Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi keeps the lights on, but losing a Titanfall project and a new IP stings. The gaming world’s in a rough spot, and Respawn’s got to juggle keeping fans happy while staying afloat. For now, everyone’s watching, hoping they’ll bring back the spark that made them special.

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This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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