While big single-player titles like Dead Space make headlines, large live service games keep industry titans like EA Sports afloat for another year. The publisher just recorded a record Q4, approaching $2 billion in net bookings, with FIFA 23 being the series’ most profitable title to date as the transition to EA Sports FC approaches.
EA Sports reported record net bookings of $1.95 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, in a press statement, up 11% year on year.
This was partly due to the FIFA franchise’s record live service game performance. According to EA Sports, FIFA 23 is currently the most successful game in series history, outselling FIFA 22, and the FIFA franchise’s net bookings increased 31% year over year in the quarter.
With its connection with FIFA coming to an end, EA Sports has renamed its annual football franchise EA Sports FC, with further details expected in July. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has dismissed the value that the FIFA brand contributed to the series, and, more importantly, the publisher would maintain vital alliances, such as its deal with the Premier League, to keep the sport’s most popular clubs in its games.
While FIFA is undoubtedly EA Sports’ crown jewel, it did not carry the record Q4 on its own. Apex Legends, which had “net bookings growth” in Q4, and The Sims 4, which has 70 million total players worldwide, also aided EA’s portfolio.
EA Sports earned $1.87 billion in net revenue for the quarter and $7.45 billion for the year. It expects Q1 revenue to be between $1.83 billion and $1.93 billion, with the April release of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and revenue for the fiscal year to be between $7.3 billion and $7.7 billion.
Also read:
PlayStation 5 Pro reportedly confirmed to be in development over at Sony
