Electronic Arts lays off 400 in latest blow to beleaguered gaming industry

Electronic Arts (EA) is reducing its global workforce by 3%, or about 400 jobs, and shutting down BioWare, the 31-year-old studio behind the Mass Effect series. The cuts, announced yesterday, are the first major changes at EA since the gaming giant went private in a massive, $55 billion leveraged buyout finalized in September by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. The deal put roughly $18 billion in debt on EA’s books, requiring hefty...