Warren Spector condemns executive payouts following Electronic Arts' closure of BioWare

Veteran game developer Warren Spector publicly criticized Electronic Arts leadership in a LinkedIn post following the publisher's decision to close BioWare. Spector wrote that the studio's shuttering left him "gut-punched" and pushed back against arguments framing the closure as a sound business move following creative or commercial decline. Instead, he questioned why studio developers face widespread layoffs when corporate leaders responsible for management and market strategy remain insulated from consequences. [1][2]

To highlight the disparity, Spector detailed the annual compensation packages awarded to top EA executives. Total fiscal year 2026 earnings cited include $38.65 million for chief executive officer Andrew Wilson, $13.7 million for president Laura Miele, $11.3 million for chief financial officer Stuart Canfield, $8.4 million for chief legal officer Jake Schatz, and $8.3 million for chief people officer Mala Singh. Spector questioned how such payouts can be justified while tens of thousands of industry workers lose their jobs. [1][2]

According to PC Gamer, those executive earnings represented significant annual increases, with Wilson receiving an $8 million raise after previously making $30.5 million in 2025. That bump followed layoffs across several internal development teams and the complete shutdown of Ridgeline Games. The closure of BioWare also followed EA's acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund alongside venture capital interests, as Eurogamer noted. [1][2]