FIFA Ultimate Team generated $39 million

The microtransaction-powered Ultimate Team add-on to the FIFA franchise has become a tremendous money-maker for Electronic Arts. In the three months following the launch of FIFA Soccer 12, the publisher has generated $39 million.

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The microtransaction-powered Ultimate Team add-on to the FIFA franchise has become a tremendous money-maker for Electronic Arts. In the three months following the launch of FIFA Soccer 12, the publisher has generated $39 million.

While that's good news for EA, it certainly feels shady in light of accusations that hackers are laundering money via FIFA 12 on Xbox Live.

Chief Financial Officer Eric Brown commented (via Joystiq): "We're looking to see a 25 percent increase franchise to franchise. The overall package goods units sold is not increasing by 25 percent year over year, so we are expanding by a decent margin the microtransaction revenue per user of FIFA." Essentially, the audience for FIFA isn't growing that dramatically--but the amount of money EA is making off of FIFA players is.

Could the hacking community be responsible for much of the revenue growth in this year's iteration of Ultimate Team? "A small number of gamers continue to report being impacted by fraudulent activity related to FIFA Ultimate Team on Xbox Live," an EA spokesperson told Shacknews. "New security measures have been enabled," EA promised.

EA will never admit to making money off of hackers. However, if the "new security measures" do their job and prevent hacks next year, and we see revenues for next year's Ultimate Team flatten, EA will have to answer not only to gamers--but to their investors as well.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 3, 2012 11:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, FIFA Ultimate Team generated $39 million.

    The microtransaction-powered Ultimate Team add-on to the FIFA franchise has become a tremendous money-maker for Electronic Arts. In the three months following the launch of FIFA Soccer 12, the publisher has generated $39 million.

    • reply
      February 3, 2012 11:32 AM

      What's the conversion rate after we consider russian scam currency?

    • reply
      February 3, 2012 11:50 AM

      wel, the accusations might be true.. my secretary's son's Xbox Live account was hacked twice.. and there the poor lady was taken our for approx 100 pounds on each occasion...

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      February 3, 2012 2:18 PM

      yeah EA... how much of that was from hacked account purchases that people are still yet to find reimbursement on...... I had errors with NHL12 and bought 3 packs that glitches out... and they have still yet to contact me or reinburse me...

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      February 3, 2012 3:46 PM

      I had my points cleaned out from a hacker buying gold in FIFA on my account. It only took one day for Microsoft to give me my points back, but they claimed it was my fault because the hackers must have gotten access to my e-mail account. I change my PW on my e-mail monthly and it's never the same as any other account. Also my windows live ID password was unique and very strong so I find the whole explanation bullshit. Sounds like a coverup.

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      February 3, 2012 4:07 PM

      Good job opening a hack that allows people to steal money to purchase your product. Kinda like e-crack, huh?

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      February 4, 2012 2:55 AM

      Too bad 2/3 of that is illegal purchases made on somebody else xbox account. Good going EA.

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      February 4, 2012 5:46 AM

      Thats cool, at least we know other EA games will have this bullshit now that it's generating money, who gives a fuck if a person gets hacked, fuck it, let everyone get hacked, if they only have to refund 1/2 of that, then they're still making bank. If they incorporate that shit into every game they sell then the profits just get multiplied.

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