• Loading stock data...
Friday, April 18, 2025

EA Buys Warner Bros.’ Playdemic for $1.4 Billion

  • Electronic Arts has acquired mobile game studio Playdemic.
  • The game publisher will pay Warner Bros. and AT&T’s WarnerMedia $1.4 billion.
Playdemic/Design: Alex Brooks

Electronic Arts has acquired mobile game studio Playdemic from Warner Bros. Games and AT&T’s WarnerMedia for $1.4 billion in cash. 

“This is the next step building on our strategy to expand our sports portfolio and accelerate our growth in mobile to reach more players around the world,” said Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA. 

Playdemic is the studio behind the mobile hit “Golf Clash,” which has more than 80 million downloads globally across iOS and Android since its 2017 release. 

“Golf Clash” has generated more than $225 million in revenue to date. Last month, the title brought in $6 million worldwide. 

The acquisition of Playdemic adds to an EA mobile network that has 100 million monthly active players and includes more than 15 top live-service games across a bevy of genres. 

EA is aggressively strengthening its position in the $138.4 billion video game market.

  • Completed its $1.2 billion acquisition of British racing game developer Codemasters in February. 
  • Generated $1.62 billion in revenue from its Ultimate Team offerings in FY2021, according to the company’s latest 10-K document filing. 
  • Completed its $2.1 billion purchase of developer and publisher Glu Mobile in April.

Despite expanding its offerings, EA’s spending spree led to a fiscal Q4 2021 that fell short of expectations. 

The “Madden” and “FIFA” publisher generated $1.34 billion in revenue in Q4 compared to $1.38 billion for the same period a year before. 

Its full-year revenue was stagnant at $5.6 billion — the same as fiscal year 2020. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Masters

Why The Masters Quietly Cracked Down on Ticket Resellers

Insiders expect big changes are coming to ticketing at Augusta National.
exclusive

Inside Nico Iamaleava’s Ugly Breakup With Tennessee

Iamaleava’s representatives claim to FOS he didn’t push for more NIL money.
Jul 29, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; France center Dominique Malonga (14) and guard Marine Johannes (23) celebrate after defeating Canada during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy

‘Has to Change’: The WNBA’s International Player Problem

As more global stars arrive, the “prioritization” rule is causing tension.
Yamine Lamal Barcelona

Lamine Yamal: The Pressure and Price of Barcelona’s Young Prodigy

Lamine Yamal is a teenage superstar. Can Barcelona afford him?

Featured Today

The pin flag on the second green flaps in the wind during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Inside The Masters: Traditions, Restrictions, and Gnomes

How the most exclusive major employs its own strict rules and operations.
Mar 16, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) reacts after scoring a basket agianst the Utah State Aggies during the second half at Golden 1 Center.
exclusive
April 6, 2025

‘It’s On Principle’: NBA Players On Filing for House Settlement Checks

The checks are relatively small. That’s not the point, players say.
Mar 29, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) before playing against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.
April 5, 2025

As College Basketball Teams Got Older, Duke Embraced the Fountain of Youth

How the Blue Devils went old-school in the transfer portal era.
Mar 1, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) and center Olivier Rioux (32) and guard Alijah Martin (15) and forward Thomas Haugh (10) huddle after the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
April 4, 2025

How Florida Built a Final Four Roster With ‘Under-Recruited’ Players

“We’ve never gotten a single player because we’re the highest bidder.”

FanDuel Retains Sports Betting Crown With $14B in 2024 Revenue

The FanDuel parent company posts big increases in revenue and net income.
DraftKings app
February 14, 2025

Lawsuit Says DraftKings VIP Program ‘Preyed On’ Gambling Addicts

The company’s being sued for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
February 20, 2025

Americans Bet $148 Billion on Sports in 2024, Up 23.6%

Both overall handle and revenue rose by more than 20% last year.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
August 20, 2024

Beloved ‘Backyard Sports’ Brand Says It Will Relaunch After Decade Hiatus

“Backyard Baseball” was a turn-of-the-century computer hit. 
DraftKings
August 2, 2024

DraftKings Announces Consumer Tax Starting Next Year

The company’s stock fell 5% Friday morning.
July 24, 2024

The Perfect Storm Propelling ‘EA Sports College Football’ to Early Success

Growing fandom and a long wait have already reaped dividends for EA.
July 20, 2024

The Road to the Return of ‘EA Sports College Football’

This summer, the biggest development in college sports is virtual.