Electronic Arts (EA) canceled its upcoming Black Panther game and shut down the developer studio, Cliffhanger Games, as part of a strategic shift to focus on their core franchises. This decision was driven by the company’s goal to concentrate creative energy and resources on the most significant growth opportunities, prioritizing successful intellectual properties like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends.
Cliffhanger Games, established in 2023 specifically to develop the Black Panther game, was led by Kevin Stephens, known for his work on the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series. The game was planned as a single-player, third-person action-adventure set in the Marvel universe and was part of a three-title partnership between EA and Marvel Games, which also included an Iron Man game and another unannounced action title.
The cancellation is part of a broader restructuring at EA, including layoffs affecting about 5% of the workforce across various departments. Despite canceling the Black Panther game, EA has reaffirmed its commitment to other licensed properties, continuing development on the Iron Man game and the next Star Wars Jedi installment, redirecting resources from the canceled project to these titles.
For fans of Black Panther, the character will still appear in other upcoming projects, such as Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, an action game featuring Black Panther alongside Captain America.
