Electronic Arts (EA) is transitioning away from its remote-first approach, requiring employees living within 30 miles of any company office to return on-site at least three days a week. The change, first reported by IGN, reflects EA’s desire to increase in-person collaboration, speed up decision-making, and reestablish shared office culture following years of flexible work arrangements.
The new hybrid policy was announced via company-wide emails from CEO Andrew Wilson and EA Entertainment and Technology President Laura Miele. It marks a major cultural shift from the pandemic era, when EA embraced remote operations to support safety and flexibility.
Offsite model phased out
As part of the transition, EA will phase out its “offsite local” model over the next 3 to 24 months. Future exceptions to remote work will require approval from EA’s top executives. This move effectively centralizes workforce management and limits remote hiring, signaling tighter control over workplace logistics.
Change follows layoffs and restructuring
The hybrid work shift comes on the heels of several rounds of layoffs. EA recently cut 300–400 positions and previously downsized its BioWare studio and overall workforce by 5% in early 2024. The company says these changes are part of a broader effort to align resources and boost execution across teams.
EA follows broader tech trends
EA joins a growing list of tech companies—including Amazon, Meta, and Salesforce—revisiting remote work policies. While the new hybrid mandate may foster collaboration, it also raises concerns among employees who adapted to remote flexibility over the past four years.
