GAMES DEVELOPER PopCap Games has confirmed it is closing its Dublin office, with the loss of 96 jobs.

Last month staff were informed of the decision to review its Irish operation, with strong indications that this would involve job losses.

The review was in response to changes in the gaming industry and is part of a global restructuring of PopCap. The move comes a week after parent firm EA Games announced it was going to create 300 jobs in Galway in addition to its 400 existing employees.

Rumours of trouble at the games publisher began last month on Twitter when Duke Nukem creator George Broussard posted about the possibility of layoffs at the firm.

Games publisher EA bought PopCap in July last year in a deal worth up to $1.3 billion as it moved to expand its social and casual gaming portfolio. The purchase price included $650 million in cash and $100 million in stock, with up to $550 million in performance-based payments.

In a statement last night PopCap Games said it has provided outplacement support and many employees have offers in other parts of PopCap, at EA, or new opportunities with technology partners in Ireland.

“Europe remains a critical market for PopCap and we will continue to grow our presence through centralised services operated from our north American offices and through the extensive European EA network,” it said.

PopCap specialises in casual games, with hits such as Bejeweled and Plants vs Zombies in its product portfolio.

The company has operated in Ireland since 2006.