Electronic Arts Ends Remote Hiring, Pushes Employees to Full Return to Office

Electronic Arts (EA) is officially ending remote work and bringing employees back to the office, according to internal company emails sent to employess on May 15, 2025.

According to IGN, company’s CEO Andrew Wilson stated in the email that the company will now define hybrid work as being in the office at least three days a week. Wilson cited “kinetic energy” and the value of in-person collaboration as the drivers behind the change, claiming it often leads to “unexpected breakthroughs.”

This marks a sharp shift away from the flexible policies adopted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote work became the norm across much of the games industry. EA will now be phasing out its “offsite local” model altogether, with work location changes coming on a rolling basis.

President of EA Entertainment Laura Miele followed up Wilson’s announcement with more specifics. Employees living within 30 miles (48 kilometers) of an EA office will be expected to follow the new hybrid model. Those living beyond that range will be classified as remote, unless their role requires them to be hybrid or onsite, in which case relocation may become necessary.

Miele also confirmed that no immediate changes will occur. Transitions will include at least 12 weeks’ notice and vary depending on region, with some taking up to two years to fully implement.

Despite the planned rollout, several employees speaking anonymously to IGN expressed concern and frustration. Some cited lengthy commutes, others pointed to childcare or medical accommodations that had only become possible through remote work. Workers outside the 30-mile range also voiced anxiety over whether they’d be forced to move or risk losing their roles.

EA’s move follows similar return-to-office mandates at major publishers like Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, and Activision Blizzard.