EA shutters SpellForce and BattleForge developer, reports say

Electronic Arts has shuttered the studio behind the SpellForce series and the browser-based Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, according to GamesIndustry International sources. The publisher didn't comment on the fate of EA Phenomic specifically, but did acknowledge some layoffs in a statement.

"As part of EA's realignment in recent weeks, we have announced internally a small adjustment to some development staff to better focus our teams against priority growth areas," an EA representative wrote. "The decision to let people go is not something we take lightly and we are working to ensure that impacted employees are treated fairly and with respect for their contributions to EA, and with assistance to find other job opportunities."

EA Phenomic was founded as Phenomic Game Development in 1997, and acquired by EA in 2006. It was best known as the developer of the SpellForce series of role-playing strategy games, but began producing free-to-play strategy games starting with BattleForge in 2009.

GamesIndustry International reports the studio employed 60 at its peak.

Connor Sheridan

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.