What Happened to Electronic Arts Los Angeles (EALA)?

Electronic Arts Los Angeles (EALA) originated from DreamWorks Interactive, a studio founded in March 1995 as a joint venture between DreamWorks SKG and Microsoft. Electronic Arts acquired DreamWorks Interactive's Los Angeles studio in February 2000, officially renaming it EA Los Angeles. Under the EALA banner, the studio became a significant developer for Electronic Arts, producing acclaimed titles across several major franchises, including Medal of Honor, Command & Conquer, and The Lord of the Rings. In January 2003, EALA expanded its capabilities by merging with EA Pacific and integrating staff from the now-closed Westwood Studios, which led to its involvement in the Command & Conquer series.

A pivotal shift occurred in July 2010 when EA Los Angeles was rebranded as Danger Close Games. This change was strategic, intended to dedicate the studio's efforts exclusively to the Medal of Honor franchise, which had been rebooted with a modern setting. Danger Close Games released the 2010 Medal of Honor and its sequel, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, in October 2012.

The fate of Danger Close Games was sealed by the poor critical and commercial reception of Medal of Honor: Warfighter. In January 2013, Electronic Arts announced that the Medal of Honor series would be put "out of rotation" and on hold indefinitely. This decision effectively led to the dissolution of Danger Close Games by January 30, 2013, as its sole purpose was to develop games in that franchise. Many of the developers were reassigned to other EA studios, with some leaving the Los Angeles area.

The lineage of EALA did not end there. In May 2013, some senior staff from Danger Close Games formed the groundwork for a new studio, DICE Los Angeles (DICE LA), which operated as a division of EA DICE. Initially, DICE LA primarily served as a support studio for DICE's main headquarters in Stockholm, contributing to titles like Battlefield 4. This studio continued to evolve, and in July 2021, DICE LA was rebranded as Ripple Effect Studios, under the leadership of Vince Zampella. This rebranding signaled a new direction, with Ripple Effect Studios tasked with developing its own projects in addition to its ongoing support for the Battlefield franchise.

As of August 3, 2026, Ripple Effect Studios is an active Electronic Arts studio based in Los Angeles, California. It has expanded its presence, opening new studio locations in Vancouver in 2023 and Seattle in 2024. The studio is currently involved in supporting Battlefield 2042 and is actively developing an unannounced new project, aiming to make significant impacts in game development and studio culture.