EA lays of 1000 employees

Game publisher Electronic Arts announced it will lay off 10 percent of its workforce, or 1,000 people, which is double the amount of lay offs the firm announced in October.

Electronic Arts Inc. announced it will lay off 10% of its work force in a restructuring plan that includes a consolidation of facilities operated by EA. The majority of the restructuring will be completed by March 31, 2009. This announcement is a four percent increase from the six percent work force reduction EA announced on October 30, 2008.

EA expects the restructuring plan will result in annual cost savings of approximately $120 million and will bear a restructuring charge of $55-65 million over the next several quarters.

The restructuring will result in the closure of at least nine studio and publishing locations. The Black Box Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia will be shut down and The Black Box development teams and associated game franchises will be moved to the nearby EA studio location in Burnaby, British Columbia [via dailytech].