On May 28, IGN reported that EA ended development on a Black Panther title and shuttered Cliffhanger Games.

At the time, the closure was a part of the third round of layoffs that took place at EA in 2025. The game’s firm said it would try to help those affected by the layoffs by placing them into new roles.

Cliffhanger was established in 2021 and led by Kevin Stephens, consisting of game developers of various degrees of experience and time within the industry. EA introduced the new game maker in July 2023.

Its closure has presented another series of questions for the games industry and consumers alike. For example, it’s unknown exactly how many staffers lost their jobs due to the studio being shut down.

How long was the Black Panther project in development? 

According to Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, the Black Panther project was closing in on four years of development.

What led to the decision to cancel Black Panther and ultimately close down Cliffhanger?

Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that EA executives were frustrated that the title wasn’t out of the pre-production stage. Given the current state of the industry, not many games are awarded long development cycles if they reach that point. But why not Black Panther?

Game development is a years-long process that’s subject to change. Some of those reasons could be creative differences, management changes, or following shifting mandates from the parent company.

Schreier’s report said that Black Panther’s slow buildup was also attributed to the studio being in the process of growing.

“…The team had been moving slowly due to an elongated ideation period and also the struggles of simultaneously building a game and a studio, said people familiar with the title’s challenges. It didn’t help, the people said, that Cliffhanger was based in Kirkland, Washington, an expensive city that would need to pay top salaries, especially now that EA has put an end to remote hiring,” he said.

Where does this leave Black Panther in gaming?

To date, there isn’t a modern AAA title solely based on starring the Black Panther; a question that some have wondered about since the box office performance of the 2018 film.

Is Black Panther, as a brand and character, a fit for video games? 

We do not need to look far to answer this question. The African superhero is part of an ensemble cast in Skydance’s upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra game, reportedly due for a 2026 release. T’Challa and Wakanda are also a part of the initial roster in the popular team hero shooter title, Marvel Rivals, which was released in December 2024.

According to Marvel Rivals heroes data, T’Challa has a 4.65% pick rate and 54.04% player win rate.

When will the Black Panther get a solo game? 

It may likely be a matter of time. Video games based on established brands, IPs, and characters are a regular occurrence within the industry. However, games that are allowed to have a long development cycle are few and far between, given the state of the industry.

Part of the reason is due to the rising cost of game development. There have been multiple examples of companies closing studios and stopping projects as part of efforts to keep costs and spending down. Bloomberg offered an analytical breakdown of the subject.

Schreier explains, “It’s worth noting that video games do need ample iteration to be good, and some of the most successful games have been the result of so-called “wasted” work. Cuts and cancellations are not always a mistake. But there are also countless examples of teams of hundreds floundering in pre-production as they try to figure out what a game’s “core loop” will actually look like…”

Still, the closing of Cliffhanger Games offers the most important question of all: 

What will happen to the people formerly of Cliffhanger?

EA stated that it would be in the process of helping those affected find new roles within the company. We do not know if everyone will be able to land on their feet. For those who don’t find a new role, they face the reality of navigating a harsh job market, fewer roles, a changing industry, higher cost of living, and being in company with many others that have also been laid off who are competing for the same jobs. 

Will these game developers eventually have the long careers that they have imagined for themselves?

On May 6, EA published its financial results for its fourth quarter and the full year. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2025, the company generated revenue of $7.4 billion. We do not know the full cost for the Black Panther project. However, EA’s full year revenue was down by 1.3% year over year and it’s possible that Cliffhanger could have released a very successful game if given the opportunity.