EA has announced that it is lowering its financial forecast for the current business year, citing underperformance from its tentpole titles EA Sports FC 25 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard (thanks, VGC).
EA stated that it has initially expected "mid-single-digit growth" for its live service titles, but has now revised this as a "mid-single-digit decline". While the EA Sports franchise had experience two consecutive years of double-digit-growth, the company said that the latest title was unable to sustain its early momentum after launch, stating that "the franchise experienced a slowdown".
In addition, EA mentioned that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the latest title in Bioware's action-RPG franchise, managed to reach around 1.5 million players since its launch at the end of October 2024, though this was "down nearly 50%" from initial expectations.
As a result, EA now expects "net bookings of approximately $2.215 billion for the third fiscal quarter and an updated range of $7 billion to $7.15 billion for fiscal year 2025".
Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA, had the following to say:
"During Q3, we continued to deliver high-quality games and experiences across our portfolio; however, Dragon Age and EA SPORTS FC 25 underperformed our net bookings expectations. This month, our teams delivered a comprehensive gameplay refresh in addition to our annual Team of the Year update in FC 25; positive player feedback and early results are encouraging. We remain confident in our long-term strategy and expect a return to growth in FY26, as we execute against our pipeline."
In our 8/10 review for EA Sports FC 25, we called it "the second solid entry in a row from EA" on the Switch, marking a return to form after the publisher shafted Nintendo fans with half-baked 'Legacy' versions of the game.
What do you make of EA's revised forecast for the current business year? How can it turn things around? Let us know with a comment down below.
[source ir.ea.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 21
EA needs to tap into the magic infinite player base with infinite wealth and infinite free time that live in makebelieveland.
@MrGawain sounds like Nintendos “Blue Ocean” strategy to be honest.
I absolutely hate this company that sells full remakes and sometimes trilogies ,not remasters, for what a traditional game costs.
Doesn't help that, aside from FIFA, they've practically ignored the best selling system since the PS2. I would buy Command & Conquer, Mass Effect Trilogy and an NHL game on Switch in a heartbeat.
"EA Sports, if its in the game it's in the Shareholder Net Return on Capital".
@TbobB That is true. EA has never really cared about Nintendo platforms and with the performance of the Nintendo Switch and hopefully success on the Switch 2, this will open their eyes and see that making their games and not half-assed versions will be successful for them.
Poor EA, I hope they can overcome this setback.... /S
Good. Suffer more even... eh, i say that, but really of the remaining 4 AAA Presidents, EA is kinda the best by default. Ubisoft is slowly dieing, Take-Two take forever to do anything and charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege, and Microsoft are in a four way tue with Google, Blackrock, and the Saudi Oil Barons for "most evil entity on the planet" (anyone expecting a certain someone else to show up here, he's too much of an idiot to actually do anything.)
Some online hate goes way too far, but in EA's case it is fully deserved.
EA Sports having a decline is certainly not good, but at the same time this capitalistic obsession with growth and excessive expectations instead of stability and realistic expectations is unhealthy and is one of the reasons why we're seeing (gaming) companies, especially Western ones, in such a decline... too bad that as usual it doesn't particularly affect the CEOs if at all and it's mostly if not exclusively the lower employees that end up paying the price for it!
The fact that you have given an almost broken and completely unplayable game an 8 out of 10 tells more about you. Not to mention how you faked the footage of your video review.
I have not played it, but looking at the picture, I have to ask. Do men and women play together in this game?
@Jhena excuse me they’re both men in that picture… how very dare you assume any different. I jest. Poor EA though! I jest again…
Can’t believe they are still turning that much money from fifa.
Both games failed for the same reason. None of my friends, who actually buy Fifa every year, were interested in this last one.
These guys used to make all the games I cared about.
But it's been fifteen years since I purchased anything bearing their logo.
Removed - inappropriate
Serves them right, i really hope that EA has less support for the Switch 2.
If EA wants to turn things around, they need to cater to the target audience of the first Dragon Age. Whatever they decide to do, I will play games, with or without them, it is their decision.
Maybe they should have tried making some great games instead of focusing on social commentary, that would have helped their bottom line.
I THINK the last EA game I bought was Madden on the Wii. I actually really enjoyed it even though the graphics weren't as good as the PS____ (insert whatever number it was competing with, 3 I think). I liked drawing my own plays with the wii-mote and also flicking to pass. I also liked their golf game that used the wii-mote gyro accessory. Since then, they don't release sports game on the switch worth buying, so why buy? ACTUALLY, just remembered I bought one of the Fifas on Switch for $5 when they did eshop sale, but never played it.
I was still playing International Superstar Soccer on the 3DS instead.
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