Following its acquisition of British developer Codemasters, it looks like EA is once again expanding its portfolio of developers - as the company is launching a new studio led by former Monolith Productions VP Kevin Stephens.
The studio doesn't yet have a name, but we do know it will be based in the Seattle area and will work on an open-world action-adventure game (via GamesIndustry.biz). During his time at Monolith Stephens oversaw projects such as Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War, so he's had plenty of experience working with this genre.
Stephens will be reunited with EA senior VP and group general manager Samantha Ryan, who was formerly president of Monolith and worked with Stephens. Ryan told GamesIndustry.biz that "the action-adventure space is a hugely important genre in our industry, and to us at EA.