EA is shutting down Maxis Emeryville, the studio that brought you SimCity and The Sims

Sad news, fans of Maxis’ simulation games: EA today suddenly closed Maxis’ Emeryville office.

The company was behind many popular games like the latest ‘SimCity’, ‘Spore’ and even ‘The Sims’. In a statement to Polygon today, EA said that the changes “do not impact our plans for The Sims” as it is “consolidating Maxis IP development” to other studios and other DLC is still on track for the recently released Sims 4.

EA confirmed that The Sims development is based at its studio in Redwood Shores, not at the Emeryville office that was closed today.

Guillaume Pierre, lead gameplay scripter and designer for ‘SimCity’ and long-time Maxis employee, tweeted the sad news.

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 (@DesignGuillaume) March 4, 2015

What’s unknown is the fate of other games, like ‘SimCity’. EA doesn’t mention anything explicit in its statement outside The Sims, so this could mean the end of development on the game. Update: EA confirmed to us via email that it is “committed to the SimCity franchise and its loyal and active community,” which is great news for fans of the game.

The company does say that Maxis employees will be given “opportunities to explore other positions within the Maxis studios and throughout EA” however Pierre said in a tweet that “everyone’s out of a job.”

➤ EA Closes Maxis Emeryville [Beyond Sims]