Electronic Arts has canceled “R7,” a promising new extraction shooter set in the Titanfall universe, in a move that has shocked fans and dealt a major blow to the future of original titles at Respawn Entertainment. The announcement, made on April 29, 2025, comes alongside widespread layoffs at EA, impacting between 300 and 400 employees—about 100 from Respawn alone.
The cancellation ends hopes for a new Titanfall installment, something fans have awaited since Titanfall 2 in 2016. Though never officially unveiled, R7 was said to merge Titanfall’s fast-paced combat and mechs with the loot-based gameplay seen in titles like Escape from Tarkov. The project was reportedly in early development and now joins a list of shelved Respawn games, including Titanfall Legends and a Star Wars FPS.
EA says the layoffs aim to realign resources toward projects with more proven potential. Respawn echoed this, confirming it was ending work on “two early-stage incubation projects” to focus on Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi franchise. The second canceled project remains unnamed.
This strategic pivot comes after EA reduced its 2025 earnings forecast due to underperforming releases like Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Instead, the company is doubling down on live-service models like Apex Legends and popular IPs such as Star Wars Jedi. Both continue to drive reliable revenue, in contrast to R7’s riskier design.
Fans have voiced frustration, seeing this as yet another missed opportunity for the Titanfall franchise. Many remember Titanfall 2 as a masterpiece, hindered by EA’s poor release timing. Social media is filled with comments mourning the R7 project and criticizing EA’s priorities. Some point out that Titanfall 3 was once in development before morphing into Apex Legends, reinforcing concerns that true innovation is being sidelined.
The layoffs at Respawn—roughly 30% of the total—affected developers, QA staff, and publishing roles. Despite EA’s promises of internal support, the news adds to a growing wave of job cuts in gaming, with over 2,000 industry layoffs in 2025 alone. Critics argue that leadership decisions—not staff performance—should be held accountable for financial shortfalls.
As Respawn focuses on Apex Legends and Star Wars, the future of Titanfall remains uncertain. Though rumors of Titanfall 3 persist, the loss of R7 has left many skeptical. For now, the dream of returning to the Titanfall universe is once again on hold—perhaps indefinitely.
