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EA Ends Remote Hiring, Requires Office Work

by Sarah Nov 02,2025

Electronic Arts has informed employees that it will permanently discontinue remote work policies and require a full return to office operations.

In an internal email obtained by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson stated that onsite collaboration generates "a dynamic energy that sparks creativity, innovation, and stronger connections – frequently leading to breakthrough ideas that enhance our players' experiences." He clarified that EA's "hybrid work" model will now mandate "a minimum of three office days per week" while phasing out "offsite local positions" gradually.

EA Entertainment President Laura Miele provided additional implementation details in a follow-up message, describing the shift from decentralized operations to "a uniform global work structure":

These policy adjustments won't be immediate. Staff should maintain current work arrangements until receiving location-specific transition timelines.A minimum 12-week notice period will precede all work model transitions, with rollout schedules varying by geographic location.The hybrid model aligns with Wilson's EA Action plan, requiring three weekly office days at assigned locations.EA is establishing a 30-mile (48-km) perimeter around all office sites.Policy implications:Employees residing within 30 miles of an EA office will transition to hybrid schedules.Those beyond the radius retain remote status unless their role specifically requires onsite or hybrid attendance.The Offsite Local category will be discontinued, with transitions spanning 3-24 months depending on location.Future remote position approvals will require executive authorization.

Anonymous EA employees told IGN about widespread confusion and frustration, citing concerns about increased commute times averaging several hours, childcare conflicts, and medical accommodations previously supported by remote work. Workers classified as remote outside the 30-mile zone expressed anxiety about job security if relocation proves impossible. According to Miele's guidelines, current remote employees will lose their exempt status within 3-24 months.

While remote arrangements became an industry standard during COVID-19 lockdowns, maintaining popularity post-pandemic, EA's reversal follows recent trends among major publishers. Numerous workers had relocated to more affordable areas under presumed permanent remote policies, only to face difficult choices between costly moves or employment termination.

The gaming sector has seen increasing office return mandates from publishers like Rockstar, Ubisoft, and Activision Blizzard, often accompanied by workforce attrition and public criticism. EA's policy shift arrives amidst broader industry retrenchment from flexible work models.

This announcement follows EA's recent workforce reductions, including approximately 300 company-wide layoffs, BioWare cuts earlier this year, and nearly 700 position eliminations in 2023.

IGN has contacted EA for additional commentary.

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