Marcus Lehto, co-founder of Ridgeline Games and a prominent character in the Halo franchise, has sharply criticized Electronic Arts (EA) following his resignation from the firm and the subsequent closure of Ridgeline Games, the studio he helped establish.
Lehto, who oversaw the creation of a new single-player Battlefield game at Ridgeline, left the company under unidentified circumstances last month. Shortly after, EA officially shut down Ridgeline Games, triggering a lot of worry among industry professionals and gamers alike.
On Friday, Lehto showed his distaste on social media platform X, writing, "I haven't been very vocal here because I don't have anything positive to say about EA, my recent departure, and the impact on so many, including my team, due to widespread layoffs in the industry."
Lehto's comments received broad support from fans, with one user describing EA as "the epitome of corporate greed," a view shared by many in the gaming community.
In response to worries about the studio's closure and layoffs, EA Entertainment President Laura Miele addressed the situation. Miele acknowledged Ridgeline Games' closure in a statement made last month, alongside news of around 700 job losses across the company.
She stated that several former Ridgeline employees would join Ripple Effect, an EA studio based in Los Angeles that is currently working on a multiplayer experience for the Battlefield franchise. Criterion Games, famed for its work on previous Need for Speed titles, will handle Battlefield's next single-player project.
Miele explained Lehto's resignation, saying, "Marcus Lehto recently made a personal decision to leave the project." She assured stakeholders that Criterion had quickly assumed control of the single-player development to ensure a smooth continuation of their efforts.
Ridgeline Games will discontinue operations independently in Seattle as part of the reorganize, with select team members joining Ripple Effect. This collaborative action aims to maintain momentum among DICE, Ripple, and Criterion as they work to shape the future of the Battlefield gaming experience.
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