Group 1: Core Insights - The PC/console gaming market continues to grow, driven by a mix of paid and free-to-play models, with action games leading in downloads [4][21][22] - EA remains the top publisher in PC/console downloads, leveraging strong sports franchises and collaborations [42][59] - Steam dominates the PC gaming market, with significant revenue growth projected to exceed $12 billion in 2025, driven by paid games [12][16][18] Group 2: Market Overview - The total downloads for PC/console games from 2025 to date reached approximately 1 billion, with action games accounting for 262 million downloads [4][21] - Steam's user base prefers paid content, with 79% of downloads classified as paid games, contrasting with Xbox's 39% for free-to-play [31][35] - The top three publishers by downloads are EA (82.8 million), Microsoft (75.4 million), and Sony (55.4 million), highlighting a concentration in the market [46][48] Group 3: Publisher Strategies - EA's strategy focuses on sports games, licensed IPs, and successful collaborations, maintaining a leading position in downloads [59][60] - Microsoft's performance is driven by major franchises like Call of Duty and Minecraft, with a significant portion of downloads coming from mobile platforms [63][64] - Sony's strategy emphasizes blockbuster titles and narrative-driven experiences, with a high percentage of downloads from action games [70][71] Group 4: Game Performance - FIFA 25 is the highest-selling PC/console game to date in 2025, with 12 million copies sold, followed by Monster Hunter: Wilds and NBA 2K25 [86][92] - R.E.P.O. emerged as a top independent game, showcasing the potential for organic growth through content creators [134][135] - The success of games is heavily influenced by platform strategies, with Steam favoring indie developers and Xbox focusing on Game Pass titles [89][90]

Core Insights - Electronic Arts (EA) reported a 6.52% year-over-year increase in net revenue for Q4 FY2025, reaching $1.895 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.55 billion, with a net profit of $254 million, up 39.56% [1] - The company's total net revenue for FY2025 was $7.463 billion, a slight decline of 1.31% from $7.562 billion in the previous year, with game business revenue at $2.002 billion and live services and others at $5.461 billion [1] - EA's new game "Split Fiction" sold over 1 million copies within 48 hours of its release and has surpassed 4 million copies globally [1] Financial Performance - For Q4 FY2025, EA's revenue growth was primarily driven by its gaming business, particularly the EA SPORTS series, which saw its American Football game surpass $1 billion in net bookings for the first time [1] - The latest installment of "The Sims" maintained double-digit growth in its 25th anniversary quarter, contributing to the overall revenue increase [1] Future Outlook - EA anticipates total bookings for FY2026 to be between $7.6 billion and $8 billion, with growth expected from EA SPORTS, "The Sims," and new titles from "Battlefield" and "Skate" [4] - The company projects operating cash flow of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion and net revenue between $7.1 billion and $7.5 billion for FY2026, with Q1 estimates at $1.55 billion to $1.65 billion [4] Strategic Changes - EA plans to release a new "Battlefield" game before April 2026, with a full reveal expected this summer, which is seen as a key step in creating the next generation of entertainment [2] - The company is undergoing layoffs of 300-400 positions, including around 100 from Respawn Entertainment, and has canceled two projects, including a new "Titanfall" title, to focus resources on the next "Jedi" game and updates for "Apex Legends" [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For FY 2025, the company reported net bookings of $7.36 billion, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [24] - Full game net bookings were $2.02 billion, up 1%, driven by strong performance in EA Sports College Football '25 and new releases [25] - Live services net bookings were $5.34 billion, down 2%, impacted by a decline in Apex Legends and softness in FC Ultimate Team [25] - The company achieved a gross margin of 79.3%, an improvement of nearly 200 basis points, due to lower licensing fees [26] - Operating expenses increased by 2% to $4.4 billion, while earnings per share rose to $4.25 [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EA SPORTS FC saw a significant rebound in engagement and monetization following a major gameplay update in January, leading to double-digit growth in player engagement [5][8] - The American football ecosystem generated over $1 billion in net bookings, up over 70% year-over-year, with a 68% increase in hours played [9][10] - The Sims franchise delivered over 30% net bookings growth in Q4, driven by the 25th anniversary celebrations and new content releases [12][29] - The successful launch of the new IP, Split Fiction, resulted in nearly 4 million units sold, exceeding expectations [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - FC Mobile engagement and acquisition were up over 20% year-over-year, with significant growth in key mobile markets [9] - The company noted that its largest mobile markets differ from its largest HD markets, indicating a successful expansion strategy [9] - The American football ecosystem's engagement trends remained strong, with Q4 average weekly active users higher than the fiscal year average [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to broaden its reach into additional markets and enhance app experiences through strategic partnerships [11] - Future growth is expected to be driven by live services, new game launches, and building global fandom [15][18] - The company plans to transform The Sims into a unified ecosystem across games, marketplaces, and social spaces [18] - The acquisition of TRACECAP is expected to enhance gameplay authenticity and immersion [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate near-term economic uncertainty, emphasizing the resilience of its franchises [39][78] - The company anticipates continued growth in its American football and global football franchises, leveraging the increasing popularity of these sports [20][70] - Management highlighted the importance of community engagement and feedback in shaping future game developments [61] Other Important Information - The company returned over $2.7 billion to stockholders through stock repurchases and dividends in FY 2025 [26] - The upcoming fiscal year is expected to see net bookings of $7.6 billion to $8 billion, reflecting a growth of 3% to 9% year-over-year [30][31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the main issues during the temporary slowdown in FC and how were they fixed? - Management noted that temporary slowdowns are not unusual for large franchises and attributed the slowdown to a lack of migration from the previous title and feedback from competitive players regarding gameplay tuning [44][49][54] Question: How does the company view the long-term growth profile and live services? - Management reiterated confidence in the long-term growth framework, emphasizing the importance of live services and new titles in driving growth [55][56] Question: What are the key learnings from the Battlefield beta testing? - Management highlighted the importance of community feedback in shaping the game and ensuring alignment with player expectations, which has been a significant focus for the development team [60][62] Question: How does the company view the competitive landscape for American football? - Management expressed optimism about the growth of American football, citing the increasing engagement and fandom in the sport, and plans to deepen connections between college and NFL products [70][72] Question: How does the company plan to navigate potential macroeconomic challenges? - Management believes that the entertainment industry, particularly its franchises, has shown resilience during economic downturns and expects to continue delivering value to players [78][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For FY 2025, the company reported net bookings of $7.36 billion, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [23] - Net revenue was $7.46 billion, also down 1% [25] - The company generated free cash flow of $1.86 billion, returning 145% of this amount, or $2.7 billion, to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends [26][34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EA SPORTS FC saw a significant rebound in engagement and monetization, with player engagement up double digits following a major gameplay update [6][22] - The American football ecosystem surpassed $1 billion in net bookings, up over 70% year-over-year, driven by strong postseason engagement [9][24] - The Sims franchise delivered over 30% net bookings growth in Q4, marking its best fourth-quarter performance ever [12][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - FC Mobile continues to exceed expectations with over 20% growth in new player acquisition and daily active users year-over-year [7][8] - The company noted that its four largest mobile markets differ from its largest HD markets, indicating successful global reach [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to broaden its reach into additional markets with new strategic partners and enhance app experiences [11] - Upcoming launches include iconic franchises like Skate and Battlefield, with a focus on community engagement and innovative gameplay [14][15] - The company aims to transform The Sims into a unified ecosystem across games, marketplaces, and social spaces [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate potential economic uncertainties, emphasizing the resilience of the gaming industry [39][78] - The company anticipates continued growth driven by its core franchises and the upcoming World Cup in 2026, which presents a significant opportunity [19][34] Other Important Information - The company is investing in AI to enhance game development and player experiences, viewing it as a powerful accelerator of creativity [20] - The company has a strong return of capital program, aiming to return at least 80% of free cash flow to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the main issues during the temporary slowdown in EA SPORTS FC and how were they addressed? - Management noted that temporary slowdowns are not unusual for large franchises and attributed the slowdown to a lack of migration from the previous title and feedback from competitive players regarding gameplay tuning [44][54] Question: How does the company view continued growth in live services and new titles? - Management reiterated confidence in the growth framework shared during Investor Day, emphasizing the potential for margin expansion and cash flow growth [55] Question: What key learnings have emerged from the Battlefield beta testing? - The company highlighted the importance of community feedback in shaping the game, noting that this approach has led to overwhelming positive responses and deeper engagement [60][62] Question: How does the company plan to navigate potential macroeconomic challenges? - Management expressed optimism about the resilience of the gaming industry, emphasizing the fundamental human need for entertainment and the value provided by gaming experiences [78] Question: How does the company view pricing power for its IP? - Management indicated that the business model has evolved, allowing for a range of pricing strategies, and emphasized the importance of delivering quality and value to players [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For FY 2025, the company reported net bookings of $7.36 billion, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [25] - Full game net bookings were $2.02 billion, up 1%, driven by strong performance in EA Sports College Football '25 and new releases [26] - Live services net bookings were $5.34 billion, down 2%, impacted by a decline in Apex Legends and softness in FC Ultimate Team [26] - The company achieved a gross margin of 79.3%, an improvement of nearly 200 basis points, due to lower licensing fees [26] - Operating expenses increased by 2% to $4.4 billion, with earnings per share at $4.25 [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EA SPORTS FC saw a significant rebound in engagement and monetization following a major gameplay update in January, leading to double-digit growth in player engagement [6][9] - The American football ecosystem, including Madden NFL and college football, generated over $1 billion in net bookings, up over 70% year-over-year [10][25] - The Sims franchise delivered over 30% net bookings growth in Q4, driven by the 20th birthday celebrations and new content releases [30] - The successful launch of the new IP, Split Fiction, resulted in nearly 4 million units sold, exceeding expectations [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - FC Mobile engagement and acquisition were up over 20% year-over-year, with significant growth in key mobile markets [10] - The company noted that its four largest mobile markets differ from its largest HD markets, indicating a successful expansion strategy [10] - The American football ecosystem's engagement remained strong post-season, with increased monetization opportunities during the offseason [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to broaden its reach into additional markets with new strategic partners and enhance app experiences [12] - Upcoming launches include iconic franchises like Skate and Battlefield, with a focus on community engagement and player feedback [16][17] - The company aims to transform The Sims into a unified ecosystem across games, marketplaces, and social spaces [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate potential economic uncertainties, emphasizing the resilience of the gaming industry [41][80] - The company anticipates continued growth driven by live services, new game launches, and the upcoming 2026 World Cup [19][36] - Management highlighted the importance of community engagement and feedback in shaping future game developments [64] Other Important Information - The company returned over $2.7 billion to stockholders through stock repurchases and dividends, representing 145% of free cash flow [27] - The company expects net bookings for FY 2026 to be between $7.6 billion and $8 billion, reflecting a growth of 3% to 9% year-over-year [32] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: What were the main issues during the temporary slowdown in FC and how were they fixed? - Management noted that the slowdown was not unusual for large franchises and was attributed to a lack of migration from the previous title and feedback from the core competitive cohort regarding gameplay tuning [46][51][56] Question: How does the company view the growth investments behind Battlefield? - Management indicated that the primary growth investment for Battlefield is in go-to-market costs, with continued investment post-launch expected [66] Question: How does the company expect American football to perform in the coming year? - Management expressed optimism about the growth of American football, citing the increasing popularity of the sport and the potential for deeper connections between college and NFL products [70][72] Question: What areas of the business are most sensitive to macroeconomic changes? - Management highlighted the resilience of the gaming industry during economic downturns, emphasizing the fundamental need for entertainment and the value provided by gaming [79][80] Question: How does the company view pricing power for its IP? - Management stated that the business model has evolved, allowing for a range of pricing strategies, and emphasized the importance of delivering quality and value to players [81][84]

Electronic Arts Inc. Q4 and FY25 Results May 6, 2025 While Electronic Arts believes these estimates are meaningful, they could differ from the actual amounts that Electronic Arts ultimately reports in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. Electronic Arts assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these estimates prior to filing its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. Refer to Appendix for additional disclosures. Table of Contents 2 01 Safe Harbor S ...

Core Viewpoint - Electronic Arts (EA) is expected to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 6, with anticipated GAAP revenues between $1.682 billion and $1.832 billion and earnings per share ranging from 65 cents to $1 [1][2]. Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is $1.56 billion, reflecting a decline of 6.18% from the previous year [2]. - The consensus for fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is $1.11 per share, indicating an 18.98% decrease from the year-ago figure, with a 4.3% downward revision in estimates over the past 30 days [3]. Performance Factors - EA's Global Football franchise is projected to experience a low double-digit decline in net bookings for the fourth quarter, following a mid-single-digit decline in Q3, due to challenges in player acquisition and engagement [5]. - The release of the new co-op action-adventure game, Split Fiction, on March 6, is expected to partially offset declines in other franchises, priced at $49.99 [6]. - The announcement of F1 25 is likely to have a modest impact on bookings due to its release in the next fiscal year, while the acquisition of TRACAB Technologies is not expected to materially affect Q4 results [7]. Year-over-Year Comparisons - EA anticipates fourth-quarter net bookings between $1.444 billion and $1.594 billion, representing a decline of 4-13% year-over-year [9]. - The American Football titles are performing well, with expectations to surpass $1 billion in net bookings for fiscal 2025, although the upcoming College Football 26 release is outside this reporting period [8]. Future Outlook - Investors should monitor engagement metrics across EA's sports franchises and insights regarding the fiscal 2026 pipeline, which includes major releases like College Football 26 and Battlefield, as these could signal a potential return to growth [10].