UPDATE: Ghost Games hit with lay-offs, unannounced Need for Speed on hold - report

Ghost Games has suffered a round of lay-offs and its unannounced Need for Speed title has been put on hold according to a report on Polygon.

UPDATE: EA Has responded to VG247 regarding the Ghost Game lay-offs. A rep told us simply, "We have entered a consultation period for some positions in our Ghost Games UK studio.”

There's still no word on the number of roles affected, or if there's any truth to the Battlefield 5 project-share. We'll update you if we hear more.,

ORIGINAL STORY: According to sources speaking with the site, Electronic Arts dismissed hired contractors and full-time staff were given the choice of taking compensation and leave or to stay on at the office to support development of Visceral's rumored Battlefield title, codenamed Havana which is rumored to be released this year and have a “police” theme.

It was announced last year that Criterion Games was no longer working on the Need for Speed franchise but a new IP and Ghost Games would be in charge of the franchise for the foreseeable future after the release of Need for Speed: Rivals.

The majority of Criterion staffers moved over to Ghost Games, with studio boss Alex Ward stating that 20 team members remained to work on the new IP.

Ward and studio co-founder Fiona Sperry both announced their departure from the studio earlier this year.

EA has yet to respond to requests for comment on the report.