Summary
EA has officially canceled Cliffhanger Games’Black Panthertitle and shut down the studio as part of a recent round of layoffs. TheBlack Panthervideo game was first announced back in 2023, though speculation about it began about a year before when EA Motive’sIron Mangame was revealed. A new studio, Cliffhanger Games, was set up in Seattle to work on this game, under the leadership of former Monolith Productions Vice President Kevin Stephens.
For the past couple of years, the internet has been buzzing with speculation aboutthisBlack Panthervideo gameand how it would stand apart from the version featured in Skydance’s upcomingMarvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Unlike that version, which is set in World War 2 and will follow Azzuri (the Black Panther of that era), Cliffhanger’sBlack Pantherwould presumably take place in the modern day. Rumors also hinted that players would be able to choose their own character to don the mantle of the feline protector through a branching narrative, and Cliffhanger reportedly sought to integrate authentic African martial arts.
Sadly, it seems the Cliffhanger-developedBlack Panthergame won’t be moving forward at EA.IGNrecently broke the news that EA has decided to cancel the development ofBlack Pantherin an email sent to staff from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele. Cliffhanger Games is being shut down as well, reportedly as a result of further layoffs at EA. It isn’t clear how many employees will be let go at this time, but the number is said to be less than the nearly 300layoffs across Respawnand EA’s Fan Care teams last month.
Black Panther Studio Cliffhanger Games Is Shutting Down
In the announcement email, Miele said that these layoffs are part of an effort to “sharpen [EA’s] focus and put [EA’s] creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.” She added that,like EA’s previous layoffs, these decisions didn’t come lightly and that EA is actively working to support the affected employees, including helping them find new jobs at the company.
Miele also stated that EA is refocusing its efforts towards a small handful of proven franchises likeBattlefield,The Sims,Skate, andApex Legends. That being said, she reassured that EA will continue to supportEA Motive’sIron Mangame, Respawn’s thirdStar Wars: Jedititle, and BioWare’s nextMass Effectgame. However, Cliffhanger Games is no more, and its would-beBlack Panthergame now joins Monolith’sWonder Womanas a promising superhero game that fans will unfortunately never get to play.
