What Happened to Ripple Effect Studios?

DICE LA has a long and complex history, tracing its roots back to DreamWorks Interactive, a joint venture between DreamWorks and Microsoft founded in March 1995. Over the years, the studio underwent several significant transformations, including being acquired by Electronic Arts in 2000 and renamed EA Los Angeles, then becoming Danger Close Games in 2010, focusing primarily on the Medal of Honor series. In May 2013, following the poor reception of Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Danger Close Games was integrated into EA DICE and rebranded as DICE Los Angeles, receiving staff from the Swedish studio and focusing on supporting the Battlefield franchise.

A significant turning point occurred in January 2020 when Vince Zampella, founder of Respawn Entertainment, took on an expanded leadership role, including oversight of DICE LA. This move signaled a new direction for the studio, aiming to establish its own identity. In July 2021, DICE LA officially rebranded as Ripple Effect Studios, with Christian Grass as its General Manager. The new name reflected a philosophy that small ideas could lead to big innovations in game development and community engagement.

Under its new identity, Ripple Effect Studios immediately contributed to the Battlefield franchise, notably developing the 'Battlefield Portal' mode for Battlefield 2042, which launched in November 2021. The studio became a key part of the broader 'Battlefield Studios' initiative, collaborating with DICE, Criterion, and Motive Studios on the future of the franchise. This collaborative approach was particularly evident in the development of Battlefield 6, which launched in 2025 and became the best-selling game in the US that year, selling over seven million copies in its first three days.

However, the period also saw challenges. Vince Zampella, a pivotal figure in the studio's recent history and the broader Battlefield franchise oversight, passed away in December 2025. Furthermore, in March 2026, Electronic Arts announced layoffs across its Battlefield development teams, including Ripple Effect Studios, as part of a 'realignment' strategy, despite the commercial success of Battlefield 6. As of October 2026, Ripple Effect Studios remains operational, based in Marina del Rey, California, with an additional Vancouver location. The studio is currently working on an unannounced project alongside its ongoing contributions to the Battlefield franchise, including developing an 'all-new kind of experience' for Battlefield 6.