Electronic Arts has been a powerhouse in gaming since Trip Hawkins founded the company in 1982. Originally named Amazin’ Software, it was renamed to Electronic Arts because Hawkins wanted game developers treated like artists. That philosophy has evolved considerably over four decades, and EA is now one of the most commercially driven publishers in the industry.
EA Sports is the company’s crown jewel. The FIFA series (now rebranded to EA Sports FC after the FIFA licensing deal ended in 2023) has been the best-selling sports game franchise for decades. FIFA Ultimate Team alone generates over $1.5 billion in annual microtransaction revenue. Madden NFL, NHL, and the College Football franchise round out a sports portfolio that practically has no competition.
Beyond sports, EA publishes The Sims (over 200 million copies sold across the franchise), Battlefield, Apex Legends (which revitalized Respawn Entertainment and the battle royale genre), and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The company also owns studios like BioWare (Mass Effect, Dragon Age), DICE (Battlefield), and Criterion (Need for Speed).
EA has been at the center of gaming’s most heated debates. The company has been voted “Worst Company in America” by Consumerist readers multiple times, largely due to its aggressive monetization strategies and loot box mechanics. Its stock, however, tells a different story, with consistent revenue growth driven by live-service games and digital transactions.
The company reported $7.4 billion in net revenue for fiscal year 2024, with more than 70% coming from live services and digital content rather than full game sales.
