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Warren Spector sounds even angrier about BioWare’s closure as he recounts the massive salaries of EA execs: ‘Is there ANY accountability left in this world?’
Veteran game designer Warren Spector has renewed his criticism of Electronic Arts after the closure of BioWare, arguing that senior executives rarely face consequences for decisions that harm studios and their workers. He says the debate should focus less on whether closing a studio makes business sense and more on who is held responsible when leadership decisions contribute to job losses and troubled games.
Spector pointed to EA executives’ 2026 compensation, which rose from the previous year, and questioned whether the sums were justified while thousands of workers have lost their jobs. CEO Andrew Wilson received $30.5 million in 2025 and was awarded an $8 million raise, partly for meeting milestones for Battlefield 6; layoffs at several Battlefield studios and the closure of Ridgeline Games followed. Shareholders rarely reject executive pay proposals: rejection rates were 2.7% in 2019 and 2.6% in 2018.
In short
- Warren Spector says EA executives should be accountable for industry job losses.
- EA CEO Andrew Wilson received $30.5 million in 2025.
- Shareholder rejection of executive pay proposals is rare.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Spector’s criticism highlights a question of accountability: when strategic choices are followed by studio closures, layoffs or troubled games, senior leaders should explain their decisions and share responsibility for the consequences. Large pay rises tied to milestones can appear difficult to justify to workers who lose their jobs, especially when shareholders rarely vote against executive compensation.
The case against
A company’s leaders can argue that pay reflects the scale of their responsibilities and performance against agreed targets, while studio closures and layoffs may result from changing business conditions rather than a single executive decision. Linking compensation to specific milestones can be a way to reward results, and shareholders’ votes may indicate that most investors accept the company’s approach, even if the outcomes are painful for affected workers.
Explained simply
Electronic Arts (EA) is a large video game publisher whose studios make games including the Battlefield series. BioWare, known for role-playing games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is one of the studios associated with EA; studio closures and job cuts can affect both the people who make games and the future of those series.
Warren Spector is a veteran game designer who has criticised how companies make and take responsibility for decisions affecting studios. EA’s chief executive, Andrew Wilson, is among the senior leaders whose pay is set out in company reports, while shareholders can vote on executive pay proposals. These issues raise questions about how responsibility is shared between company leaders and investors when business decisions lead to job losses.