GamersMayhem

Pandemic Studios loses most employees, including founders
gamepro
By Dave Rudden
November 17, 2009 12:23 PM PST


Pandemic Studios--a development house affiliated with EA and responsible for creating the Star Wars Battlefront and Destroy All Humans series, as well as the upcoming title, The Saboteur--is losing a majority of its employees, EA has stated today.


Rumor: Pandemic Studios shutting down

Kotaku posted a story earlier today that Pandemic Studios will be closing its doors for good today, due to being shut down by parent company Electronic Arts. Known for creating a handful of series, including Star Wars Battlefront, Destroy All Humans, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Mercenaries, the company is currently developing a new IP for EA called The Saboteur--an open-world action game set in Nazi Germany. 1UP has received additional confirmation from a source at Pandemic. GamePro received word from EA spokesman Jeff Brown, who provided more details.

According to Brown, while "roughly 200 positions at Pandemic" will be eliminated, the company remains "committed to the Pandemic brand and franchises."

Brown explained "A core team of Pandemic developers will move to EALA [a nearby facility] and continue development on Pandemic games with a focus on quality, cost management and schedule integrity." This is contrary to previous reports that had pegged EA Montreal as the company that would continue work on Pandemic's imminently-releasing title, The Saboteur, as well as the mystery games listed on Pandemic's "current project site."

The remaining Pandemic employees will have new management, as the studio's former leaders (stated as such on Pandemic's website) won't be making the move, as Brown explained "At the Playa Vista facility, the Pandemic team will report to EALA GM Sean Decker. Josh Resnick, Andrew Goldman and Greg Borrud will leave the company."