Electronic Arts Trading Volume Plummets 49.25% to 265th Ranking Amid Black Panther Game Cancellation

On May 28, 2025, Electronic Arts (EA) saw a significant drop in trading volume, with a 49.25% decrease from the previous day, totaling 3.35 billion. This decline placed EA at the 265th position in the day's stock market rankings. The company's stock price also fell by 0.02%.

Electronic Arts has canceled its highly anticipated Black Panther game and shut down its developer, Cliffhanger Games. The decision comes as part of a broader restructuring effort within the company, which has faced financial challenges and internal controversies. Cliffhanger Games, established in 2023 specifically to develop the Black Panther game, was led by Kevin Stephens, a former Monolith Productions executive, and included veterans from notable franchises such as God of War, Call of Duty, and Halo. The game was intended to offer a definitive and authentic Black Panther experience, but its development was still in the early stages.

The cancellation of the Black Panther game follows a series of layoffs and studio closures at Electronic Arts. The company has laid off more than 1,000 staff over the past two years, with cuts affecting game studios, central support, and mobile divisions. The decision to shut down Cliffhanger Games and cancel the Black Panther project is part of EA's strategy to focus on proven franchises and scalable products, limiting exposure to projects with unstable development cycles or controversial creative direction.

The closure of Cliffhanger Games and the cancellation of the Black Panther game have been attributed to internal refocusing within EA. However, the controversy surrounding key developers, including Dani Lalonders and Alexa Ray Corriea, has cast a long shadow over the project's public reception. Lalonders, an associate narrative designer, faced backlash for her comments about creating a safe environment by excluding white developers from her indie game ValiDate. Corriea, a senior writer on the Black Panther game, publicly endorsed a post dismissing gamers as bigots, further fueling the controversy.

EA's broader shakeup comes after the underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a game that leaned heavily into progressive themes surrounding gender ideology. The game suffered from weak early reception and tepid player interest, failing to meet expectations despite years of investment. EA has since downsized BioWare, the studio behind Veilguard, and shifted focus to the next installment in the Mass Effect franchise, seen as a safer bet for revitalizing the company's RPG lineup.