Following a week after EA announced they would be cutting 1,500 employees from their workforce, as well as spending a reported $300 million on the social network gaming company Playfish — people with the publisher confirmed today that the team behind Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, Pandemic Studios, is closing its doors for good.

Gamespot’s Tor Thorsen received a tip earlier today, contacted EA and a person with the company verified the rumor. Over the last week or so, gossip started to leak that there was a possibility that EA Los Angeles was in jeopardy of shutting down. It seems like it’s not EALA closing, but instead the company just miles down freeway “10” in Santa Monica. The website did contact a spokesperson with EA, who did reveal that we should all stay-tuned because an announcement is forthcoming about the fate of the studio.
Two-years ago, EA purchased BioWare for $860 million and in the agreement had to bring Pandemic along with them. Pandemic is best known for creating such titles as Full Spectrum Warrior, Destroy All Humans!, and just recently they have been working on the ambitious game The Saboteur, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and it was actually marketed hard during this past E3. While we don’t know about exactly what the future of The Saboteur is, but I’m pretty sure it’s done, considering the launch date is on December 8th. So, gamers looking forward to playing it, shouldn’t worry to much.

Besides from actually making some great videogames over the years — I have to thank the studio for creating a song that is in my iPhone right now and has been played more than a few times. After the jump, listen to it.

Thanks Pandemic.