Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, has canceled two unannounced projects and laid off around 100 employees, marking a major shake-up for the acclaimed developer.
The news follows a March 2025 LinkedIn post from a former Respawn employee, which revealed that an unannounced multiplayer first-person shooter had been shelved. That project, which had reportedly been in development since mid-2024, has now been confirmed as one of the two canceled titles.
On April 29, Respawn issued a public statement acknowledging the cancellation of two “early-stage incubation projects.” The statement did not name the games but emphasized that they were both in the exploratory phase of development.
According to IGN, sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the multiplayer FPS project was among the shelved games. The studio cited a need to “focus on our core priorities” as part of the decision.
💼 Around 100 Employees Impacted
The cancellations have led to layoffs affecting approximately 100 staff members, including QA testers, game developers, and publishing professionals. Based on LinkedIn data referenced in IGN’s reporting, the cuts account for an estimated 12% of Respawn’s total workforce.
EA, Respawn’s parent company, is undergoing broader internal restructuring, a trend that has also impacted other studios under its umbrella. The publisher reiterated its commitment to ongoing live-service projects like Apex Legends while offering limited details about the future of Respawn’s canceled titles.
🎮 What’s Next for Respawn?
Despite the loss, Respawn remains a key player within EA’s portfolio. Apex Legends continues to receive regular updates and maintains a large, active player base. Meanwhile, fans of the Star Wars Jedi franchise remain hopeful that the studio will return to the series in the future. The game development industry at large continues to wrestle with rising costs and shifting priorities, and Respawn’s recent moves are part of a larger wave of downsizing and project reevaluation across major studios.