EA Ends Remote Work, Recalls Staff to Office

Electronic Arts has informed its employees that it will permanently end its remote work policies and implement a full return-to-office mandate.

In an email sent to staff today, obtained by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson stated that in-person collaboration creates "a kinetic energy that fuels creativity, innovation, and connection, often leading to unexpected breakthroughs that result in incredible experiences for our players." He went on to broadly define the new "hybrid work" model as a "minimum of three days per week in your local office," adding that "offsite local roles" would be gradually phased out.

In a follow-up email from EA Entertainment President Laura Miele, also viewed by IGN, further details were clarified, describing the company's shift from "a decentralized approach to a globally consistent, enterprise-wide work model":

Several EA sources speaking anonymously to IGN reported that employees felt upset and confused. Some shared concerns about newly required hours-long commutes, while others raised issues related to childcare or medical conditions that had been better accommodated through remote work. Those classified as remote employees outside the 30-mile radius expressed worry about the future of their roles if they were unable or unwilling to relocate closer to an office long-term. Two sources explained that, according to the details provided by Miele, existing remote workers would see their exemptions from office work phased out over the next 3 to 24 months.

While remote work has long been common in the video game industry, it became especially widespread during and after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, when stay-at-home mandates pushed many major companies to adopt remote work as a long-term solution. In the years since, companies have increasingly hired remote staff, and many employees originally based near offices moved to more affordable cities under the assumption that remote work would remain permanent.

Recently, however, other major video game companies have also been recalling employees to the office, leading to frustration and, in some cases, employee departures as staff faced difficult decisions between costly relocations and their careers. Companies such as Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, and Activision Blizzard have faced both internal and external criticism over these policies. Despite the backlash, the trend toward office returns appears to be accelerating, with more companies like EA now requiring in-office presence once again.

EA recently laid off approximately 300 employees across the company, following earlier job cuts at BioWare this year and the elimination of around 670 roles last year.

IGN has reached out to EA for comment.