14 DAY TRIAL // Video game publisher Electronic Arts is announcing that it is shutting down the Maxis studio which was operating in Emeryville and was responsible for most of the development work linked to the SimCity franchise.
Video game designer Guillaume Pierre delivered the first confirmation of the news via his official Twitter account and suggested that most of those employed there were now trying to find new jobs.
Since then, Electronic Arts has also delivered an official statement saying that all the intellectual property associated with Maxis is now being handled by teams in Redwood Shores, Salt Lake City, Helsinki and Melbourne.
Apparently, both SimCity and The Sims will be getting new content in the future from the these studios and there are no plans to shut down either of the two.
The publisher adds, "All employees impacted by the changes today will be given opportunities to explore other positions within the Maxis studios and throughout EA. For those that are leaving the company, we are working to ensure the best possible transition with separation packages and career assistance."
The first incarnation of Maxis was created in 1987 and Will Wright was working there when he created the idea which would become SimCity, one of the most engaging city creation simulators ever made.
The studio was also responsible for the very successful The Sims concept, which made a lot of money for Electronic Arts via both core games and expansions.
The future of SimCity is unclear at the moment
The most recent title delivered by Maxis is The Sims 4, which is performing well enough at the moment to get new content from Electronic Arts.
The new life simulation title has been criticized for the fact that it actually reduces player options when compared to previous installments and focuses too much on the emotions of the characters and too little on actual gameplay.
The problems with SimCity are even bigger.
The reboot of the series was engaging but failed to deliver on the expectations that long-term fans of the game had.
Electronic Arts has not offered clear sales numbers, but there are rumors from inside the company that there are plans to abandon the franchise for a while and deliver a new take on it after a few years.
Well it was a fun 12 years, but it's time to turn off the lights and put the key under the door. #RIPMaxisEmeryville
— Guillaume Pierre (@MaxisGuillaume) March 4, 2015
