Layoffs at Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts laid off an unspecified number of employees today as part of an effort to "streamline" its operations and ensure the company is well positioned for the upcoming console transition.

"EA is sharpening its focus to provide games for new platforms and mobile. In some cases, this involves reducing team sizes as we evolve into a more efficient organization," EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg told GameSpot today in a statement.

Reseburg declined to say which specific EA teams were impacted by today's cuts.

"These are difficult decisions to let go of good people who have made important contributions to EA, and whenever possible we retrain or relocate employees to new roles," he added. "Streamlining our operations will help ensure EA is bringing the best next-generation games to players around the world."

Today's layoffs come a month after former CEO John Riccitiello admitted that EA would miss its financial projections for the full year ended March 31.

"This is a tough decision, but it all comes down to accountability," Riccitiello said in his resignation letter last month. "The progress EA has made on transitioning to digital games and services is something I'm extremely proud of. However, it currently looks like we will come in at the low end of, or slightly below, the financial guidance we issued in January, and we have fallen short of the internal operating plan we set one year ago. EA's shareholders and employees expect better and I am accountable for the miss."