EA reducing workforce, prioritizing digital offerings

Electronic Arts is planning on reducing its workforce and spending nearly $40 million this fiscal year as it continues to focus more of its efforts on the digital gaming market.

Electronic Arts is planning on reducing its workforce and spending nearly $40 million this fiscal year as it continues to focus more of its efforts on the digital gaming market.

EA's strategy — which the company is colloquially referring to as the "Plan" — was laid out in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sent in alongside its latest investors report. The restructuring is expected to begin soon, and will be mostly completed by September 30th, 2012.

EA Vice President of Corporate Communications Jeff Brown told Polygon, "The restructuring charge is related to our move to digital games and services. It impacts a relatively small number of EA's 9,000 employees. Most importantly, EA is hiring and we expect to finish the year with more employees, not fewer."

EA will also spend $40 million as part of the restructuring, including a $23 million severance payout and $11 million for "license termination."

An investors call is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, at which point we'll likely find out more about EA's big "Plan." Check back with us then.