Who Owns Electronic Arts?
Electronic Arts (EA) is a publicly traded American video game publisher headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins, EA is one of the world's largest video game companies by revenue. The company trades on NASDAQ under ticker EA and is known for major gaming franchises including The Sims, Battlefield, Mass Effect, and FIFA/EA Sports FC.
Parent Company
Electronic Arts Inc.
Founded
1982
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Redwood City, California, USA
Who Owns Electronic Arts?
- Parent Company: Electronic Arts Inc.
- Ownership Type: Public corporation
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: EA
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Arts | Electronic Arts Inc. | Public corporation |
History of Electronic Arts
- Founded: 1982
- Founders: Trip Hawkins
Electronic Arts was founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins in Los Altos, California. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for quality gaming solutions while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the video game category for generations. Hawkins started the company with a vision of creating high-quality computer games and establishing a new standard for game publishing. The company's early focus was on developing games for personal computers. This strategic positioning demonstrated Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to create differentiated gaming solutions while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the company for decades.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Electronic Arts grew to become one of the largest video game publishers in the world. This period of growth demonstrated Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards across multiple gaming segments. The company published successful games including Madden NFL, FIFA, The Sims, and Command & Conquer. EA expanded its operations through acquisitions of game studios and development companies. This strategic diversification demonstrated Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to serve multiple gaming segments while maintaining its core brand identity and market leadership in the video game industry.
In the 2000s, Electronic Arts continued to expand its portfolio of gaming franchises and acquired major studios including BioWare, Criterion Games, and DICE. This strategic expansion demonstrated Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to integrate multiple studios while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards across different gaming categories. The company became known for its sports gaming franchises through EA Sports, which publishes Madden NFL, FIFA, and other sports titles. This continued evolution demonstrates Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing gaming requirements and technological advancements.
In recent years, Electronic Arts has focused on live service games, digital distribution, and expanding its portfolio of gaming franchises. This strategic adaptation demonstrated Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing gaming trends and consumer preferences. The company has also announced plans for a leveraged buyout that would make it privately owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. This continued evolution demonstrates Electronic Arts' exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing corporate dynamics and ownership structures. The company's continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of video games and consumer-focused entertainment solutions.
About Electronic Arts Inc.
What does EA own?
Electronic Arts owns a portfolio of major video game franchises including EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), Madden NFL, The Sims, Apex Legends, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Star Wars Jedi, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect. The company also owns development studios including DICE, Respawn Entertainment, Maxis, and BioWare. EA operates the EA Play subscription service, which provides access to a library of EA titles. The company's games are available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms.
Is EA publicly traded?
Yes, Electronic Arts is listed on NASDAQ under ticker EA. The company has been publicly listed since 1989. EA does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. The company is included in the S&P 500 index.
Who founded EA?
Electronic Arts was founded by Trip Hawkins in May 1982 in San Mateo, California. Hawkins had previously worked at Apple Computer and founded EA with the vision of treating game developers as artists. The company's early marketing materials featured developer photographs and biographies, a novel approach in the industry at the time. Hawkins left EA in 1991 to found 3DO Company.
Where is EA headquartered?
Electronic Arts is headquartered in Redwood City, California, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area since its founding, though it has moved offices within the region. EA operates development studios in multiple locations including Stockholm (DICE), Vancouver (EA Sports), Austin (Respawn), and other cities in North America and Europe.
How many franchises does EA own?
EA owns over 30 major gaming franchises across sports simulation, first-person shooter, life simulation, racing, and role-playing game genres. The company's most commercially significant franchises are EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, The Sims, Apex Legends, and Battlefield. EA also holds licenses to develop games based on the Star Wars intellectual property from Disney.
Who owns EA?
Electronic Arts is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and index funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in EA. Andrew Wilson serves as CEO, having been appointed in 2013. The company's board of directors is chaired by an independent non-executive chairman.
- Founded: 1982
- Headquarters: Redwood City, California, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: EA
Where Is Electronic Arts Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Redwood City, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia
Electronic Arts Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Market-leading position in gaming industry
- +Diverse portfolio of successful gaming franchises
- +Strong digital distribution and player engagement capabilities
- +Significant intellectual property and gaming franchises
- +Global player base and community
- +Recurring revenue from live service games and subscriptions
- +Talented development studios and creative teams
Considerations
- -Competition from other major game publishers and independent developers
- -Dependence on successful game releases and franchise performance
- -Player sentiment and community management challenges
- -Regulatory scrutiny of gaming industry practices
- -Need for continuous innovation and new game development
- -Monetization model controversies and player backlash
- -Changing gaming preferences and platform shifts
Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Arts
Competitors to Electronic Arts
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Electronic Artsoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Electronic Arts Inc. Stock Information
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