EA Reaping Tremendous Windfalls from Digital Sales

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Speaking at an industry conference, Electronic Arts CFO Eric Brown proclaimed, "we've at least in part kind of cracked the code of how to extend the revenue derived from a physical disc to the digital world," Gamasutra reports. As proof, Brown pointed to the $16 million in revenue earned by Battlefield 1943, a game he said cost only single-digit millions to make using talent that was "between projects" as he put it. And who knows, if they ever get around to releasing it on PC that figure may yet rise.

Battlefield's ability to sell game content online carried over to Bad Company 2 as well. Brown said that the waves of downloadable content released for the game kept its revenue stream producing. And they still have the Vietnam DLC pack due up this month, targeted specifically to go after the Call of Duty: Black Ops market.

It's not all shooters, either. Even FIFA got in on the act with gamers spending, "$500, $600, $700 on digital card packs," Brown said.

Based on these successes, expect EA to continue its push using regular releases of its core brands as the springpad from which to launch additional content online. As Brown says, "We think we're growing most rapidly in DLC for the console ... we think digital starts with the disc and the high-definition platforms."

From The Chatty
  • reply
    December 8, 2010 4:00 PM

    >>"We've at least in part kind of cracked the code..."
    How many more qualifiers can we strap onto this statement? Let's see...

    "We've at least, in part, kind of, in due course, possibly, potentially, in our own way, nonetheless, essentially, I think, if-I-may-be-so-forward-as-to-say, very likely, cracked the code..."

    And seriously... no 1943 on PC... seriously? Why?

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      December 8, 2010 4:30 PM

      I would guess lack of 1943 on PC has to do with timing.

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        December 8, 2010 5:27 PM

        As in, they don't have time for PC anymore

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          December 8, 2010 6:36 PM

          It makes so much sense. Make a modern-day, compact homage to a hugely successful PC shooter and, for the love of god, don't ever release it on the PC.

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      December 8, 2010 10:20 PM

      My guess is that its coming as DLC for BC2 on PC, probably early next year. Given the user base you have already with BC2 that is what I would do if I ran the show. Why fragment the BC2 user base when you can get the 1943 fans to join the club too.

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        December 9, 2010 12:19 AM

        That would make me buy BC2, begrudgingly. I would not put it past the bastards at EA either.

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        December 9, 2010 7:30 AM

        It would be smart of them to do this, but with a few more maps and polish than the console 43. I want some of the desert action and my mobile artillery back, I'm ok with it taking a while, as long as they do 42 some justice.

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      December 9, 2010 3:18 AM

      LOL!!!

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