Electronic Arts's CEO earned $38.6 million in the same year the company laid off 300 Battlefield developers

EA has disclosed that CEO Andrew Wilson earned $38.6 million in total compensation during fiscal year 2026, a package tied in part to Battlefield 6 hitting its launch milestones. The disclosure has drawn sharp criticism given that EA cut approximately 300 jobs across its Battlefield studios in March 2026, just months after the game sold seven million copies in its first three days.

The details:

• Wilson's total package breaks down as a $1.3 million base salary, $28 million in stock awards, $6.5 million in bonus compensation, and approximately $2.3 million in covered travel and other expenses. EA's 10-K filing cites Battlefield 6 meeting all milestones for a high-quality launch with positive critical reviews and stable services as a justification for the compensation.
• Battlefield 6, which launched in October 2025, sold more than seven million copies in its first three days and was named the best-selling shooter title of 2025. EA described it as a record-breaking entry for the franchise.
• Despite this, roughly 300 staff were cut from across EA's Battlefield division in March 2026, affecting developers at DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studio. EA framed the cuts as a "realignment" of the team.
• The juxtaposition follows a pattern at EA. The company has repeatedly overseen large-scale cuts in the months following commercially successful launches, including at Apex Legends and FIFA studios in prior years.