EA: Reductions needed to "make the company stronger"

Following rumour this morning that EA UK would be the next part of the publisher to face staff cuts, the firm's issued a statement saying cuts are necessary in order to "make the company stronger," but has refused to confirm location specifics.

"By way of a reminder for you," a rep told us, "we announced a six percent goal for headcount reductions in our earnings call on 30 October," said the company this afternoon.

"When we issued a warning on 9 December, we announced that the personnel cuts would be greater than six percent and just before the holidays, we provided the first details on that plan and said that it would include a cut of approximately ten percent, or 1000 people.

"That's where we are today. I cant give you more specifics on how many people in what locations, but we are making deep cuts in our cost structure to help make the company stronger."

By Mike Bowden