Further reports are speculating that Pandemic Studios' Australia arm has seen its publishing contract with EA terminated.

Since December, when EA announced that it would be axing 1,000 jobs as well as close (or consolidate) “at least” nine studios, Pandemic has been subjected to widespread speculation that it will be shut down in the near future.

Today, a report from news blog site Kotaku has posted claims made from “a reliable source” that Pandemic’s Australian studio has now been separated from EA.

While there was no mention of Pandemic’s Los Angeles studio, the source does heavily imply that EA has terminated its publishing contract while leaving the Brisbane developer its studio, equipment and IP. “It was more of a 'find a new publisher. Good luck.’ kind of thing,” said the source.

This remains speculation at this point. Last month other sources were telling various news outlets that Pandemic would not be closed or undergo layoffs any heavier than what EA’s other studios are facing.

The source also told Kotaku that Pandemic was working on an “open-world reality show” Wii game known as The Next Big Thing, suggesting that the source is not directly from the company, unless he or she wants to announce Pandemic’s newly-acquired IP in this manner.

Edge has contacted EA and Pandemic for comment.