Electronic Arts has reportedly closed EA Phenomic, the German studio behind the browser-based, free-to-play strategy game Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances. EA issued a statement on the recent restructuring, but didn't mention Phenomic by name.

Sources familiar with the developer told GamesIndustry.biz of the closure. The subsequent statement from EA confirms changes at the studio:

"As part of EA's realignment in recent weeks, we have announced internally a small adjustment to some development staff to better focus our teams against priority growth areas," the statement read. "The decision to let people go is not something we take lightly and we are working to ensure that impacted employees are treated fairly and with respect for their contributions to EA, and with assistance to find other job opportunities. These are hard but essential changes as we focus on delivering great games and showing players around the world why to spend their time with us."

An EA rep did say that the publisher is not moving away from the F2P model, or strategy games.

The number of displaced workers is unknown, but Phenomic once employed 60 people. The studio was acquired by EA in 2006, and then worked on BattleForge, Lord of Ultima, and finally, Tiberium Alliances. Each of its games either were, or in the case of BattleForge later became, F2P titles.