According to Kotaku, the development studio EA Chicago, home of the successful Fight Night boxing series, announced that it was shutting its doors today. Amongst the staff affected by the closure of EA Chicago are noted Mortal Kombat development veterans, Dave Michicich and Josh Tsui. Michicich and Tsui were a part of the 1999 exodus of several long-time Mortal Kombat staff team members, including most notably, franchise co-creator John Tobias. Michicich and Tsui went on to create their own development shop Studio Gigante and went on to create two titles, one of which was fighter Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus.

After that studio disbanded, Michicich and Tsui went on to EA Chicago to become art directors on Fight Night Round 3 and were believed to be working on a next-generation Marvel Fighting Game.

No word yet on what will happen to that game and the Fight Night and Def Jam franchises and where the 150 plus employees affected by this closing in the Chicago area will end up. We wish them luck in this transition.