Numerous EA studios will be affected by the publisher’s plan to cut 1,500 jobs, with reports suggesting that staff at Madden house EA Tiburon, Warhammer Online developer Mythic Entertainment and Need For Speed studio Black Box have already been axed.

The cutbacks are also due to hit nearly the entire Command & Conquer development team, as well as employees at Mercenaries and Saboteur studio Pandemic, and Spore and former-Sims house Maxis, with remaining staff set to be relocated to EA headquarters in Los Angeles and Redwood Shores, reports Kotaku.

EA confirmed plans to make substantial cutbacks with the delivery of its second quarter financial report, which showed increased losses for the publisher.

As well as laying off 1,500 staff, EA is expected to close several facilities and has cancelled 12 unannounced projects, saying that anything that that couldn't measure up to the profit of EA's core sports titles and The Sims "got cut from our title slate from this point going forward".

CEO John Riccitiello said in a statement earlier this week: "Laying off employees and closing facilities is never pleasant. We have a lot of compassion for those impacted – but these cuts are essential for transforming our company."