Oppenheimer Raises Battlefield 6 Open Beta Player Estimate to 20M

Oppenheimer has raised its estimate for Electronic Arts' Battlefield 6 open beta player base to 20M, up from its previous estimate of 5M-plus. The firm cites a more comprehensive analysis of data points from similar games. Despite negative feedback on one game mode, Rush, Oppenheimer believes the criticism is not detrimental to the overall positive player impression. The firm maintains an Outperform rating and $185 price target on EA shares.

Investing.com - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) stock has seen a significant boost following Oppenheimer's updated estimate for Battlefield 6's open beta player base. The research firm has revised its initial projection from 5 million to over 20 million players, based on a comprehensive analysis of data points from similar games and Steam concurrent user metrics [1].

Oppenheimer's new estimate assumes a 70-to-30 split between PC and console users. The firm noted that the first week of beta testing established a strong baseline for player engagement, while the second week did not surpass initial participation levels. However, the research firm concluded that the criticism of the Rush mode was not significant enough to undermine the overall positive reception of Battlefield 6 among players thus far [1].

Despite the negative feedback on Rush, Oppenheimer maintains its Outperform rating and $185 price target on Electronic Arts shares. The firm believes that the criticism of the Rush mode is not detrimental to the overall positive player impression of Battlefield 6 [1].

Additionally, Electronic Arts has made several notable announcements and updates. The company reported amendments to its Change in Control Severance Plan, introducing a pro rata bonus for the year of employment termination while maintaining other severance benefits. At their annual meeting, shareholders elected directors including Kofi A. Bruce and Rachel A. Gonzalez, with each nominee receiving between 195 million and 209 million votes in favor. In terms of analyst activity, Raymond James reiterated its Market Perform rating on Electronic Arts, while DA Davidson raised its price target to $160, maintaining a Neutral rating due to a challenging outlook for the rest of the year [1].

In other recent news, Electronic Arts announced a partnership with the National Hockey League to integrate advanced player tracking data into EA SPORTS NHL 26, enhancing game realism. These developments reflect ongoing strategic moves and market engagement by Electronic Arts [1].

References:
[1] https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/electronic-arts-stock-rises-as-oppenheimer-reiterates-outperform-on-battlefield-6-beta-success-93CH-4197454