Despite Layoffs, EA Confirms Star Wars Jedi Trilogy Is Still Moving Forward

EA Layoffs Hit Respawn: What It Means for Star Wars Jedi 3 and the Future of the Galaxy

Thereโ€™s a disturbance in the Forceโ€”and itโ€™s not just another Death Star blowing up. Electronic Arts has quietly swung its corporate lightsaber and laid off around 100 developers at Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved Star Wars Jedi series. Yes, that includes some of the folks working on Star Wars Jedi 3, the next chapter in the saga of Cal Kestis, Force-sensitive poncho connoisseur.

And no, this isnโ€™t just another business-as-usual reshuffle. Itโ€™s part of a wider EA maneuver that has seen hundreds of jobs slashed across multiple departments. While the droids youโ€™re looking for are still safe (for now), some serious behind-the-scenes shakeups have fans of Star Wars gamesโ€”and those keeping an eye on the industryโ€”wondering: whatโ€™s next?


EAโ€™s Layoff Spree Hits Respawn Right in the Core

According to multiple sources, EA recently trimmed its workforce by approximately 670 positions, with 100 of those cuts coming from Respawn Entertainment. Among the casualties? Developers working on Apex Legends, some early-stage incubation projects, and most notably, members of the Star Wars Jedi 3 team.

While EA didnโ€™t exactly send a hologram message to announce this, their statement did include an upbeat note about their continued commitment to โ€œbuilding new storiesโ€ in the Star Wars Jedi universe. Because nothing says “weโ€™re still committed” quite like escorting a sizable chunk of your development team out the metaphorical airlock.

EA Layoffs Hit Respawn: What It Means for Star Wars Jedi 3 and the Future of the Galaxy

What About Star Wars Jedi 3? Is It Still Happening?

Hereโ€™s the silver lining: Star Wars Jedi 3 is still very much in development. EA has confirmed that the next entry in the series is underway and is intended to โ€œraise the bar again for storytelling and gameplay.โ€

In other words, Cal Kestis hasnโ€™t been retired to a peaceful farm on Naboo just yet. Despite the layoffs, the studio is still moving forward with the titleโ€”though now with a leaner crew and perhaps a few more stormtroopers walking the halls looking worried.

Whatโ€™s not yet clear is how this shift will impact the timeline. With fewer hands on deck, production could slow down. Donโ€™t be surprised if that release window stretches out further than a hyperspace jump gone wrong.


Goodbye to the โ€œR7โ€ Titanfallโ€“Star Wars Mashup

Along with the layoffs came news of a canceled project known internally as โ€œR7,โ€ rumored to be a Titanfall-style extraction shooter set in the Star Wars universe. For those imagining wall-running stormtroopers and grappling hook-wielding bounty huntersโ€”sorry, this oneโ€™s not happening.

Itโ€™s a shame, really. The Titanfall DNA combined with a galaxy far, far away had serious potential to be the surprise hit nobody saw coming. Instead, itโ€™s been shelved, joining other ambitious Star Wars ideas in the great creative void where the Boba Fett movie and Amy Hennigโ€™s Project Ragtag still reside.


Respawnโ€™s New Direction: Focus on Core Franchises

The layoffs arenโ€™t just about streamlining; theyโ€™re about strategy. EA wants Respawn to double down on its most successful propertiesโ€”namely Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series. Incubation projects and riskier experimental titles? Not so much.

Daniel Suarez, formerly Respawnโ€™s SVP of Operations, is stepping into a more prominent role as the new General Manager, while Vince Zampella maintains his galactic overlord status, overseeing both Respawn and the Battlefield franchise. Itโ€™s a leadership shuffle aimed at keeping the studioโ€™s core focus laser-sharp.


Star Wars Jedi 3: What to Expect Moving Forward

Even though the development team has been thinned out, the third installment in the Jedi series is still positioned to be a major release. With the previous titlesโ€”Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivorโ€”earning critical acclaim and commercial success, EA has every reason to finish the trilogy strong.

We can likely expect a continued evolution of the lightsaber combat system, more cinematic storytelling, and hopefully fewer performance issues on launch day (looking at you, Survivorโ€™s PC release). The pressure is definitely on to deliver a satisfying conclusion to Calโ€™s journeyโ€”or at least a new arc that doesnโ€™t end with another cliffhanger.


A Galaxy of Games Still in Play

Respawn isnโ€™t completely retreating from the Star Wars battlefield. Theyโ€™re still partnering with Bit Reactor on Star Wars: Zero Company, a turn-based strategy game slated for 2026. That project remains untouched by the layoffs and continues development at lightspeed.

So while Respawn may be navigating through some turbulence, the ship hasnโ€™t completely lost power. The Star Wars Jedi universe lives on, even if its crew just got a little smaller.


Final Thoughts: The Force Is Shaky, But Not Gone

Layoffs are always a rough reality, and itโ€™s never great to hear that the developers who bring our favorite games to life are being let go. But for those whoโ€™ve been following the Star Wars Jedi series closely, thereโ€™s still reason to hope. The next chapter is still coming. Cal Kestis still has a story to tell. And EA, for all its corporate maneuvering, is still betting big on the galaxy far, far away.

Will this leaner team at Respawn manage to pull off another classic? That remains to be seen. But if the past two games are anything to go by, theyโ€™ve already proven that the Force is strong with themโ€”even if their numbers are now a bit closer to a Jedi Order post-Order 66.


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