A hot potato: Electronic Arts has joined the list of gaming and tech companies pushing back against full-time remote work. The firm has told employees who live within 30-miles of an EA location that they must transition to a hybrid model. It also appears that hiring fully remote staff will now be a rare occurrence.

In an email sent to employees seen by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson justifies the return to in-person work by claiming it results in “a kinetic energy that fuels creativity, innovation, and connection, often resulting in unexpected breakthroughs that lead to incredible experiences for our players.”

Wilson is echoing claims many CEOs make about working in the office encouraging productivity and creativity. It’s an arguable statement, especially as surveys show most employees feel more productive at home, not to mention the long list of other benefits.

EA Entertainment president Laura Miele sent a follow-up email outlining the details of the new policy, which comes into effect immediately, though transitions will come with a minimum 12-week notice period before any changes are implemented.

The hybrid model will mean working from a local EA office at least three days per week. Any remote worker who lives within 30 miles of an EA office will move to the hybrid model. Those who live further than 30 miles from an office will be considered remote unless their role is designated as On Site or Hybrid.

First day back in the office and remembering why you hate it so much

The email also reveals that EA is eliminating the Offsite Local work model. This was for those who lived beyond the 30-mile zone but were still in the same tax jurisdiction/time zone as an EA studio. The expected office presence covered ad-hoc trips for quarterly planning, playtests, or team weeks.

The email finished by stating that any future remote hires will require approval from Wilson or Miele, so it sounds as if they will be significantly reduced.

Some EA employees who live beyond 30 miles of an office said they were concerned about what would happen to their jobs if they were unwilling or unable to move closer. Two existing remote workers told IGN they would have their “exemptions” to return to the office “sunset” sometime in the next 3 to 24 months.

The further we move away from the Covid lockdown era, the more companies want to put the option of fully remote work models behind them. Having a work-life balance, avoiding a daily commute, enjoying more family time, escaping office politics, and not having to worry about the effects that in-office work can have on medical conditions seem to mean little to execs like Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who thinks 60-hour office weeks are the way forward.