In a twist that no one at Wakanda HQ saw coming, Electronic Arts (EA) has just pulled the vibranium rug out from under its very own Black Panther game—and sent the studio making it straight into the Shadow Realm.

That studio was Cliffhanger Games, a team EA assembled back in 2021 like a superhero squad of industry veterans: the ex-captain of Shadow of Mordor, a few Halo Spartans, some God of War gods, and a couple of Call of Duty grunts. Basically, people who knew how to make stuff explode emotionally and literally. Their mission? Make you feel like the Black Panther. Not just in combat, but in soul—something story-driven, rich in heritage, and worthy of the mantle.

Fast forward to today? That dream’s now dust.

According to IGN, EA’s top brass has axed the project, closed Cliffhanger Games entirely, and is now scrambling to relocate those developers into other teams like musical chairs—but where the music’s already stopped. To add insult to vibranium-infused injury, this isn’t even part of last month’s layoffs (where 300-400 employees were shown the door, including 100 from Apex Legends dev Respawn). This is a fresh wave. EA’s really speed-running the “year of efficiency” thing, aren’t they?

EA Entertainment president Laura Miele tried to soften the blow in an internal email, calling the move part of a strategy to “sharpen our focus” and “back the biggest growth opportunities.” Translation: if you’re not a proven moneymaker like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, or Apex Legends, you’re probably not making it past the next quarterly earnings call. Oh, and don’t worry—Motive’s Iron Man and Respawn’s next Star Wars Jedi game are still safe. For now.

It’s a bitter blow, not just for Marvel fans but for anyone hoping EA might try something a little different. Something that wasn’t a live-service grindfest or multiplayer shooter. Cliffhanger’s Black Panther game was aiming to tell a story, not sell you a battle pass.

Now? We’ll never know if it could’ve actually been good. EA chose the safer path—the one paved with loot boxes, endless updates, and whatever Skate is now.

Rest in power, King. You deserved better than this.