Cancelled Black Panther Game’s Developers Are Sad it Won’t Get Released, Praise Team

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As a devoted fan, hearing whispers of EA’s potential cancellation of the highly anticipated Black Panther game has left me feeling quite disheartened. The closure of developer Cliffhanger Games only adds fuel to this sorrowful news. Remarkably, some of the talented individuals who contributed to this project have taken to social media to express their own sadness and longing for a world where this game could be enjoyed. Among them is concept artist Karla Ortiz, who spoke fondly of the team she collaborated with, commending their exceptional work.

Ortiz posted on BlueSky, “I was privileged to be part of an exceptional team. We were creating an astounding and visually stunning game, filled with detail, richness, and beauty. It’s heartbreaking that the world won’t get to experience it. It’s equally heartbreaking to bid farewell to this team. It was a great honor to work alongside you all. Today is truly a sad day.

Game developer Sophie Mallinson mentioned her experience contributing to the project, affectionately referring to the development team – who unfortunately lost their jobs due to studio shutdown – as a highly skilled and collaborative dream team. Mallinson categorized it as an action role-playing game, and disclosed that its creation was spearheaded by the innovators behind the Nemesis system from both Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

Mallinson expressed, “This group is exceptional; don’t let them slip through your fingers if they were involved in this project.” He lamented, “It’s unfortunate that we may never witness a ‘Black Panther’ Action Role-Playing Game created by the innovators of the Nemesis System.

Freddie Lee, the lead environmental designer, expressed gratitude to the team he had collaborated with prior to the game’s suspension. In a recent post on BlueSky, Lee shared his admiration for the designs of Ortiz.

Today, Lee shared, “Here’s an event that unfolded today.” It must be acknowledged that during my brief tenure, I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with exceptional individuals such as Karla. Her art has not only captivated me but also fueled the inspiration of our team. Moreover, she has played a significant role in boosting my professional confidence and nurturing growth in my artistic skills. Truly, this team is exceptional and continues to excel at the highest level.

Rayme Vinson, who was previously the design director at Respawn Entertainment, shared that he had the opportunity to witness the live action of the “Black Panther” title. In his own post, he mentioned his interaction with the development team following the cancellation of a “Star Wars” shooter project. He described the “Black Panther” game as both ambitious and unique.

In Vinson’s own words: “When the First-Person Shooter game based on ‘Star Wars’ was closed down, we had a chance to inspect the game closely and discuss with their development team. Since some members from our group could join them, I was genuinely thrilled about what they were creating. It was an ambitious project that seemed unique and special, and though they had only accomplished a quarter of what they intended, I looked forward to playing it someday.

In an email disclosed today, Electronic Arts (EA) announced the cancellation of the “Black Panther” game and the closure of Cliffhanger Games. EA Entertainment president Laura Miele stated, “Making these choices is difficult. They impact individuals we’ve collaborated with, learned from, and built relationships with over time. We are making every effort to assist them, including helping them find positions within EA where we have a history of successfully transitioning people into new roles.

I was privileged to be part of such a fantastic team, and together we were developing an extraordinary, visually stunning game. It’s heartbreaking that the world won’t get to experience it. Saying goodbye to this incredible team is equally difficult. What a day filled with sadness. 💔

Or:

Working on this exceptional project alongside such an impressive crew was an honor. We were creating an awe-inspiring, visually striking game. It’s heartbreaking that it won’t be released, and parting ways with the team is equally painful. What a melancholic day. 💔

— Karla Ortiz (@kortizart.bsky.social) 2025-05-28T19:20:02.431Z

https://bsky.app/profile/sophmallinson.bsky.social/post/3lqavusellk2g

Today, an interesting event unfolded. It’s only fair to acknowledge that during my brief tenure, I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with exceptional individuals like Karla whose artistry not only resonated with me but also sparked inspiration within our team. Furthermore, she played a significant role in boosting my confidence and fostering growth in my professional artistic pursuits. To put it simply, this team is truly exceptional – they are the best of the best! 🐐🙌💔

— Freddie (@stringerseven.bsky.social) 2025-05-28T22:27:01.275Z

When the Star Wars First-Person Shooter game was closed down, we had the opportunity to examine the game closely and converse with its development team since they were open to collaborating with some of our team members. The project they were working on was both ambitious and unique, and I was genuinely eager to play it one day, even though they had only completed a quarter of what they intended.

— Rayme (@rayme.bsky.social) 2025-05-28T19:14:21.962Z

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2025-05-29 16:12