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.

Trip Hawkins founded Electronic Arts in May 1982 in San Mateo, California. Hawkins had previously worked at Apple Computer and conceived EA as a company that would treat game developers as artists, similar to how record labels treat musicians. The company's early marketing materials featured developer photographs and biographies, a novel approach in an industry where developers were typically anonymous.

EA's early titles were published for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore 64. The company went public in 1989, listing on NASDAQ. Through the late 1980s and 1990s, EA expanded through both internal development and acquisitions, building a portfolio of sports simulation games and acquiring studios including Bullfrog Productions, Maxis (creators of SimCity and The Sims), and Westwood Studios (Command & Conquer).

In 1993, EA launched the EA Sports brand, which became the umbrella for the company's sports simulation franchises. The FIFA football simulation series, launched in 1993, became one of the best-selling video game franchises in history. The Madden NFL series, which had begun in 1988, became the dominant American football simulation. EA Sports also published NBA Live, NHL, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

In 2004, EA acquired DICE, the Swedish developer of the Battlefield series, for approximately 1.1 billion US dollars. The acquisition gave EA one of the most successful first-person shooter franchises in the industry.

In 2008, EA acquired BioWare and Pandemic Studios from Elevation Partners for approximately 860 million US dollars. BioWare, the developer of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, became one of EA's most critically acclaimed studios.

In 2017, EA acquired Respawn Entertainment, the developer of Titanfall, for approximately 455 million US dollars. Respawn subsequently developed Apex Legends, a free-to-play battle royale game launched in 2019 that became one of EA's most successful live service titles. Respawn also developed the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor games.

In 2022, EA's long-running licensing agreement with FIFA, the international football governing body, expired following a dispute over licensing fees. EA subsequently rebranded its football simulation franchise from FIFA to EA Sports FC, with EA Sports FC 24 being the first title under the new name, launched in September 2023. The rebranding allowed EA to retain full control of the franchise without paying FIFA licensing fees.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, EA reported annual revenue of approximately 7.46 billion US dollars, a slight decline of approximately 1.3% year-over-year. The company's live services segment, which includes in-game purchases and subscriptions, continued to represent the majority of total revenue.

Electronic Arts has established comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on environmental responsibility, ethical gaming practices, and inclusive workplace culture. The company has made significant progress toward its climate goals while maintaining its position as a leader in the interactive entertainment industry.

Environmental Performance

EA has committed to ambitious climate targets with measurable progress. In 2023, the company established two goals: becoming carbon neutral for operations by 2027 and achieving net zero enterprise status in alignment with the Paris Agreement. As of FY2025, EA reported substantial progress toward these goals, with 83% of global operations now carbon neutral and 95% renewable electricity attributable to operations.

The company continues to advance energy efficiency across its offices through targeted upgrades including HVAC optimization with variable-speed drives, smart LED lighting with occupancy and daylight sensors, and critical IT cooling improvements. Water conservation efforts include xeriscaping, recycled-water irrigation, rain gardens, and low-flow fixtures.

Employee Engagement and Community Impact

EA's Global Green Team has grown to over 1,000 members, fostering community around environmental sustainability. In FY2025, employees donated to almost 250 environmental-related organizations and contributed approximately 1,000 volunteer hours to organizations worldwide. The company implements responsible end-of-life processes for hardware and maintains comprehensive resource management programs.

Ethical Gaming and Positive Play

EA maintains a commitment to Positive Play, ensuring safe and inclusive gaming environments. The company partners with organizations including the Tech Coalition and Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) to foster safe spaces for millions of video game players worldwide. EA SPORTS continues efforts to champion women in sports and gaming through targeted initiatives and partnerships.

Electronic Arts has received significant recognition for workplace excellence, innovation, and corporate responsibility across multiple categories.

Workplace and Culture Awards

• Forbes America's Best Midsize Employers 2025: EA was named to Forbes' list recognizing top midsize employers in the United States
• Fortune Most Admired Companies 2025: EA included in Fortune's annual ranking of the world's most admired companies
• Fast Company Most Innovative Companies 2025: Recognized for innovation in the gaming industry
• HRC Corporate Equality Index: EA received high marks for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and equality
• 2024 Campus Forward Award: Selected for unwavering commitment to seeking diverse talent and creating inclusive recruiting practices

Industry and Creative Recognition

• The Game Awards 2025: EA celebrated multiple wins and nominations across its game portfolio including Battlefield 6, Split Fiction, EA SPORTS FC 26, and F1 25
• Interactive Achievement Awards: EA has won multiple Interactive Achievement Awards from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, representing peer recognition in the gaming industry
• Studio Recognition: Three EA studios earned Best Place to Work accolades, including Maxis, Ripple Effect, and Cliffhanger studios

Electronic Arts has faced various controversies and regulatory scrutiny throughout its history, particularly related to business practices, workplace issues, and game monetization methods.

Business Practice Controversies

Since the mid-2010s, EA has been at the center of numerous controversies involving acquisitions of companies and alleged anti-consumer practices in individual games. The company has faced criticism for its aggressive emphasis on microtransactions and loot boxes, particularly in sports gaming franchises.

Legal Proceedings and Settlements

EA has faced multiple lawsuits alleging anti-competitive practices when signing sports licensing agreements and exclusive contracts with leagues and athletes. The company has also been subject to investigations and legal actions related to claims that its games promote video game addiction and related health issues, particularly among young players.

Workplace and Labor Issues

In historical cases, EA faced overtime compensation lawsuits. The company reached a $15.6 million settlement in an overtime case, reflecting past workplace practice challenges that the company has since addressed through policy changes and improved labor practices.

Regulatory Scrutiny

EA operates under regulatory oversight in multiple jurisdictions related to gaming content, monetization practices, and consumer protection. The company has worked to address regulatory concerns through policy adjustments and compliance programs.