Electronic Arts is ramping up its investment in the next generation of
consoles. The publisher revealed today that for the current fiscal year
ending March 31, 2013, it is investing $80 million "in development of
games for Gen4 console systems."
EA has already made some next-gen commitments, as CEO John Riccitiello took the stage at Nintendo's last Electronic Entertainment Expo
to confirm support for the Wii U, and suggest that Battlefield 3 could
find its way to the system. Representatives with the company have also
teased a Mass Effect game for the system, but squashed hopes of Crysis 3 for Nintendo's next console.
The Wii U is set for release later this year, but both Microsoft and
Sony have told gamers not to expect word of their next systems before
2013.
As for its present efforts, EA reported net sales of $4.14 billion for
the full year, up from $3.59 billion for the previous fiscal year. The
recently completed campaign also saw EA return to profitability, posting
a net income of $76 million for the year, compared to a loss of $276
million for the year before. The publisher touted its digital business
in particular, saying it brought in $1.2 billion for the year between
its downloadable games, subscription fees, add-on content, and mobile
and social platforms.
FIFA Soccer 12
did especially well, bringing in $108 million in digital revenues
(largely through its FIFA Ultimate Team mode), with another $34 million
expected for the current year. The company also has high hopes for Battlefield 3,
saying the first-person shooter has generated $61 million in digital
revenue, with another $97 million expected in the current fiscal year.
Both series posted their best-ever years for digital sales.
EA also updated its Star Wars: The Old Republic
subscription numbers, which have dropped off somewhat. In February, EA
said the massively multiplayer online role-playing game had 1.7 million
subscribers. Today, the publisher put the number at 1.3 million, down
about 24 percent. Last month, a BioWare developer claimed The Old Republic wasn't losing subscribers at all, saying only that the peak concurrent user numbers were down.
The digital focus on EA is only going to grow, as the publisher told
investors the sector will continue to drive its numbers for the coming
year. For the full year ending March 31, 2013, EA expects net revenues
to be $4.08 billion, with a loss per share between $0.36 and $0.16.
"In the coming year, we break away from the pack, with a very different
profile than the traditional game companies and capabilities that none
of our new digital competitors can match," Riccitiello said in a
statement.
As for the quarter ended March 31, EA said it posted net revenues of
$1.37 billion, up from $1.09 billion. The company's quarterly net income
hit $400 million, up year-over-year from $151 million.
In a postearnings conference call, Electronic Arts executives also
confirmed that a new Need for Speed game will arrive in the holiday
quarter. The game's existence first leaked through UK retailer GAME earlier this year.
