Electronic Arts is cutting 200 jobs at developer Pandemic Studios, and will fold the remaining developers into a team to work at the publisher's Los Angeles studio, EA has confirmed.

The studio's leadership, including Pandemic co-founders Josh Resnick and Andrew Goldman, will also leave the company, says Holly Rockwood, the director of corporate communications for EA.

Pandemic works on titles such as Mercenaries, Star Wars: Battlefront and The Saboteur, which is slated for release on December 8. Rockwood says The Saboteur will arrive as scheduled.

Rockwood also says the core team relocating to Los Angeles will continue work on future Pandemic projects. "Our intention is to keep the Pandemic brand active in EA LA," Rockwood says.

The job cuts are part of the publisher's restructuring plan to cut 1,500 jobs and close several facilities after posting net losses in the second quarter.

"Laying off employees and closing facilities is never pleasant – we have a lot of compassion for those impacted – but these cuts are essential for transforming our company," said EA CEO John Riccitiello during an earnings call earlier this month following the announcement of the cuts.

Electronic Arts purchased Pandemic in October of 2007 as part of a $775 million deal that also included Mass Effect developers BioWare.

By Brett Molina