It became clear that not even Electronic Arts would be immune to implementing cost-cutting measures in a tougher market, right down to closure of whole studios and axing of label developers. A recent rumor propogated by blog Joystiq suggested that Warhammer Online's developer Mythic, also under EA's umbrella of developers, would similarly face a reduction in workforce. The tidbit was specific in noting that a number of Mythic's support staff would be axed, including half their QA and "all of the playtest group". Given that developer-side support is the lifeblood of MMORPGs, especially for one as (relatively) young as Warhammer Online, the rumor proved troubling indeed. Mythic's warboss Mark Jacobs has sinced stepped forward to address this.
While Jacobs didn't touch on whether or not staff actually were released at Mythic, he straight up denies his company reached the point of laying off half to whole teams. Jacobs responds to numerous posters in an outspoken (and now closed to response) discussion board thread:
"Oh, and the whole (OMG, we're losing 1/2 the developer (or even of the total team) thing) is total nonsense. This is one of the times I really, really wish I could comment more than I can but if you look at what [John Riticello] has said in terms of *cost* cutting, that should give you a good idea about what is happening throughout EA."...I have a very large team continuing to work on WAR now and going forward and we'll continue to build with that.
