Pandemic Studios Closes Down? [UPDATED]

Pandemic Studios, the developers behind Star Wars: Battlefront, Mercenaries, and the upcoming nazi killer, Saboteur, is rumored to be closing its doors today, barring an official announcement by Electronic Arts.

While still unconfirmed (we stress this), the announcement is supposedly coming to the Pandemic staff at 11 am PST. So if you're reading this and work for Pandemic with no prior knowledge of this meeting, or it's intentions, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But I am.

If Pandemic closes down some 200 employees will be let go, with those who remain to be merged into other EA development teams. 

But what does this mean for the upcoming Saboteur game? Well sources are indicating that the project will be passed to EA's Montreal studio, the makers of Army of Two, to finalize and push out the door without skipping a beat. Meaning you should still be able to enjoy all the Nazi killing in time for Christmas. Which is how every holiday season should be spent.

Pandemic Studios has been limping for some time now, with their Australian division having dropped the ball on an instant money-maker Dark Knight tie-in game, and it looks like the studio is finally being brought out back and put down, Ol' Yeller style. Now once again, this is all rumor status as of now, but as soon as we get official word we will update here.

[UPDATED] It's official. Pandemic Studios, as we know it, is dead. With a "core IP team" moving on from the ash and rubble to the EA offices in Los Angeles. However, Nick Earl, EA Games Label Senior Vice President, wrote in a memo:

"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on. In the months ahead, we will announce plans for new games based on Pandemic franchises. This type of change can be difficult. But the situation calls for us to act decisively, to take control of our destiny and to run a stronger, more focused development operation. That's how we will continue to make great games in our LA studios."

Which let me translate: EA will take the blood, sweat and tears poured into these franchises by the 200 people laid off and profit off it. But won't profit enough to let these folks keep their jobs at the company.

RIP Pandemic Studios, 1998-2009.