IT HAS BEGUN

For the last week or so I’ve been writing posts about rumours of layoffs at EA. Today, I received word that some of those rumours are turning out to be true. When it comes to these types of matters, the whole truth is very difficult to ascertain and today was no different. I can start out with what I would classify as the most reliable info I have so far. I heard from two different sources that a small number of people from the EA Sports Active development team were laid off today. I don’t know the exact number but it certainly wasn’t a mass layoff of the entire Active team. Even then, I feel for the people who lost their jobs today. When you get laid off, it doesn’t matter if you’re the only one or if you were one of hundreds, it’s still an unfortunate thing to go through.

So let’s get to the stuff that still remains firmly in the realm of rumour. Any of the following is purely based on speculation or guessing. I have heard today won’t be the only day of layoffs. Tomorrow is supposed to be another day of action and that the numbers will be significantly higher. I have also heard that most of, if not all of, an entire development team might be let go.  Again, this is purely rumour so I won’t state which team that might be. If you follow the sports video game news, you can probably piece together which franchise that might be. I’ve also heard some other stuff but there’s not enough substance for me to write about for now.

If you’re at all worried about my own job safety, don’t be. A job in the video games industry is never really that safe, you just go back and forth between periods where your job is less safe and then more safe. More often than not, your performance has very little to do with how secure your job is. In any case, though I could get laid off any day just like anyone else, there are some things to consider. First, the game I’m working on isn’t finished and we’re working hard to get it done fairly soon. Another thing is that I know the area of the game I’m working on better than anyone else on the team. Sure, there are few dudes who know my code but it’s easiest for me to finish features and fix any problems related to my area. Having said all that, it wouldn’t really come as  a surprise if I actually got laid off tomorrow.

Stayed tuned for what will probably be an interesting post tomorrow night.