EA pays CEO $38 million for Battlefield 6 developer layoffs

When Battlefield 6 launched in 2025, it wasn’t just a game; it was a corporate tidal wave. It shattered expectations, pulling in an incredible seven million copies in just three days and setting a new benchmark by outselling competing titles like Call of Duty.

This monumental success brought massive rewards to Electronic Arts, but the aftermath revealed a stark contrast between the game’s explosive performance and the handling of its internal staff. As part of the reward, the company initiated significant layoffs, including eliminating the entire team dedicated to developing an all-new, story-focused title in the series.

The financial structure behind these decisions invites scrutiny. CEO Andrew Wilson’s total compensation for the 2026 fiscal year reached $38,649,984—an increase of $8 million over the previous year. While business performance, spearheaded by the success of Battlefield 6 and stable services, was cited as a justification, the pay structure tells a more complex story about corporate priorities.

Wilson’s compensation package showed an upward trajectory. While his base salary remained static at $1.3 million, bonuses and modifiers drove the total payout up considerably. Furthermore, there were perks that inflated his earnings; for instance, an internal assessment permitting Wilson to use corporate aircraft for personal travel—subject to a 75-hour cap—resulted in a $1,245,946 expense in 2026 alone.

This financial climb puts the executive compensation into sharp focus when compared to the workforce. In 2026, Wilson’s total compensation ratio to the median EA employee soared to 305:1. This figure significantly widened the gap compared to previous years, even as the median salary for employees also saw a modest increase.

The impact of this corporate focus was felt across the organization. Other divisions experienced staff reductions in recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams, with several major studios finding themselves without positions while the C-suite collectively realized substantial earnings from the proceedings.

This pattern points to a larger systemic issue: the relentless pursuit of shareholder value has fueled an explosive growth in executive pay across the industry. It reflects a system where maximal profit and growth often take precedence over employee well-being, a dynamic that is not unique to Electronic Arts but speaks to broader trends.

The saga of Battlefield 6 and its aftermath serves as a potent reminder: the success of a product is only half the equation. True corporate health requires balancing monumental commercial success with equitable treatment for those who drive that success, ensuring that growth doesn’t come at the expense of fairness.