Goodnight Pandemic Studios. May Ye Rest Well.

According to an internal EA memo, "a core IP team" will move to Electronic Arts' Los Angeles office.
[quote]
"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on," Nick Earl, EA Games Label Senior Vice President, said in the memo. "In the months ahead, we will announce plans for new games based on Pandemic franchises.

"This type of change can be difficult. But the situation calls for us to act decisively, to take control of our destiny and to run a stronger, more focused development operation. That's how we will continue to make great games in our LA studios."</blockquote>

Earl said the move was made to "improve our cost structure, ensure quality and build schedule integrity for this studio."

It's unknown exactly how many people are to be affected by the studio's closure, but our thoughts go out to those who've lost their job as a result of these circumstances. Hopefully the studio's last title, The Saboteur (due out next month), will be a last hurrah for the original team.