EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

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  • Shawn Zipay
    Managing Communities 24/7
    • Apr 2003
    • 69064

    #1

    EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

    EA has posted its second quarter results today, and things aren't looking too good. The company has recorded a $310 million net loss for the quarter, compared to the same quarter the year previous in which the company only lost $195 million.

    While they lost $310 million, their revenues for the period were up to the tune of $894 million. This figure is a substantial increase over last year's $640 million for the same period.
    "Considering the slow down at retail we've seen in October, we are cautious in the short term," said John Riccitiello, Chief Executive Officer. "Longer term, we are very bullish on the game sector overall and on EA in particular. The industry is growing double-digits on the strength of three new game consoles and increases in the number of homes with broadband internet connections. EA is well positioned to benefit from these technology drivers due to the strength of our creative studios and our broad collection of game properties—from The Sims, to Spore and Madden NFL, to Warhammer Online."

    The company also shared a few quick details about their better performers:
    — Madden NFL 09 sold 4.5 million copies and was the number one title across all platforms in the quarter based on NPD data.

    — SPORE is a hit selling nearly 2.0 million copies in just 3 weeks — over 40 million creatures have been uploaded into Sporepedia(TM). SPORE is the number one title on the PC in North America and number three title in Europe year-to-date.

    — Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, an MMO from EA's Mythic Entertainment studio, sold 1.2 million copies in the quarter — with over 800 thousand current players.

    — EA Mobile is the world's leading publisher of games for phones — with revenue of $47 million — up 24 percent year-over-year.

    However, due to the company's poor performance, nearly 6% of their workforce was laid off. This equates to roughly 600 people now out of a job. These layoffs are part of EA's cost reduction plan which will result in annual, pre-tax savings of nearly $50 million.

    Other aspects of this cost reduction plan include hiring fewer people. Positions that needed people before will simply be closed without new people being hired to fill spots.

    Source
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  • solofowaffles
    Member
    • May 2006
    • 4306

    #2
    Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

    That sucks people losing their jobs.

    Comment

    • RocketChild
      Senior Member
      • Aug 2005
      • 3949

      #3
      Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

      Yeah, I hate seeing people loosing work...but the truth of it is...EA kills people employment so often it is not funny. Here in Austin, there have been a few software companies that were bought up by EA. And the stories you hear about what they do to companies...they are almost as bad as the record industry. They will only publish a title if they think it is a Top 5 title. And if it is not, then they will shelf it, no matter how much time was spent buy the company that made it, EA will not distribute it and maintain the rights.

      On a list of ugly companies...I rate EA up there with Nike. A side of me things the world would be a better place without EA. It is nice having one place that can distribute titles...but it is just like the current music sales paradigm. Direct sales are a reality with gaming...with a simple middle-man like Steam, with low royalties on sales, the market for games could have a great future.

      Comment

      • fhein

        #4
        Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

        Agreed.. EA produces buggy games, has horrible support, includes DRM that punishes their customers etc so I would be disappointed if they continued making lots of money. If they would disappear then people would spend their money on other stuff, creating more jobs in some other company :)

        Comment

        • =98=
          Member
          • Oct 2006
          • 10299

          #5
          Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

          This is probably down to the closure of the EA Los Angeles office, where the Command and Conquer FPS was being made. I think there were significant losses being made there and the games being developed in that area weren't seen to be worth the costs.

          I have to say, i believe a lot of this will be down to the global credit crunch. A recent news article said the gaming market is booming, which is true, but they don't take into account the fact that publishers and developers rely on a lot more than just games sales.

          Comment

          • CptainCrunch
            I am the 1%
            • Oct 2007
            • 12976

            #6
            Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

            Yeah, with credit being the way it is, it would be hard for any company to keep monies flowing in.

            Not to mention how EA pulled out of the PC side with their sports, which they are famous for. Its a sign of them starting to "cut the fat".

            They do have a list of large games out dont they? Like Crysis?

            Crunch
            Twitter: @CptainCrunch
            Battlelog/Origin: CptainCrunch

            Comment

            • BriGuy82

              #7
              Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

              The gaming industry is one of the only that is increasing in sales during this recession ... somehow EA doesn't see that..

              Comment

              • =98=
                Member
                • Oct 2006
                • 10299

                #8
                Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                Originally posted by BriGuy82
                The gaming industry is one of the only that is increasing in sales during this recession ... somehow EA doesn't see that..
                Just because on average something is growing, it doesn't mean everyone is. They are probably cutting jobs and costs in order to continue growth.

                Think about it before you post :)

                Comment

                • USApatriot

                  #9
                  Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                  :yay:

                  Comment

                  • teetsaar123
                    Random egoistic commenter
                    • Apr 2006
                    • 605

                    #10
                    Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                    Originally posted by lamphalo232
                    :yay:
                    "EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees"
                    Good to see that you are thinking positive.

                    Comment

                    • USApatriot

                      #11
                      Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                      EA can go to hell.

                      Comment

                      • Mitch

                        #12
                        Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                        Originally posted by lamphalo232
                        EA can go to hell.
                        Agreed, If they need a ride I will volunteer to take them.... :thumbsup:

                        Comment

                        • Mitch

                          #13
                          Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                          Originally posted by teetsaar123
                          "EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees"
                          Good to see that you are thinking positive.

                          While it's never a good thing when people loose their jobs, as far as I am concerned it's not enough!

                          In the long run the best thing that could happen for their employees, customers and the gaming community in general, is if EA just went away.

                          While I am sure their employees & stock holders may not agree with the comments I have made, my advice to you folks is next time make sure the company you work for or invest in at least knows the definition of the word ethics because the folks running EA don’t have a clue.

                          With that being said let what just happen serve as a clear warning to the rest of the talented folks working for EA of how you can expected to be treated down the road because unless EA changes how it conducts itself this is bound to start happening more and more.

                          I just want to clarify the statement "as far as I was concerned it's not enough" I am refering to how much money they lost not the number of folks loosing their jobs.

                          Comment

                          • TGL|TXGrunt
                            TGL Director of Operations
                            • May 2007
                            • 113

                            #14
                            Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                            Originally posted by RocketChild
                            Yeah, I hate seeing people loosing work...but the truth of it is...EA kills people employment so often it is not funny. Here in Austin, there have been a few software companies that were bought up by EA. And the stories you hear about what they do to companies...they are almost as bad as the record industry. They will only publish a title if they think it is a Top 5 title. And if it is not, then they will shelf it, no matter how much time was spent buy the company that made it, EA will not distribute it and maintain the rights.

                            On a list of ugly companies...I rate EA up there with Nike. A side of me things the world would be a better place without EA. It is nice having one place that can distribute titles...but it is just like the current music sales paradigm. Direct sales are a reality with gaming...with a simple middle-man like Steam, with low royalties on sales, the market for games could have a great future.
                            yea i know the market is really bad. i think all compaines are being hit some way.

                            Were bouts in Austin. I am North Side. Wells Branch area.

                            Comment

                            • RocketChild
                              Senior Member
                              • Aug 2005
                              • 3949

                              #15
                              Re: EA Loses $310 Million, Lays off 600 Employees

                              Originally posted by TGL|TXGrunt
                              yea i know the market is really bad. i think all compaines are being hit some way.

                              Were bouts in Austin. I am North Side. Wells Branch area.
                              620/Stone Canyon. I was driving down Wells Branch three days ago. If you know whom SgtMattBaker (I think he is the one), used to live in RR, a few blocks from me also. Kinda a small world sometimes.

                              Comment

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