Electronic Arts Q3 2025: Key Contradictions on Battlefield Labs, Game Releases, and Apex Legends Strategy

These are the key contradictions discussed in Electronic Arts' latest 2025Q3 earnings call, specifically including: Battlefield Labs Announcement and Reception, Release Timing and Opportunities of New Games, and Strategic Focus on Apex Legends:



Financial Performance and Strategic Adjustments:
- Electronic Arts reported net bookings of $2.2 billion for Q3, down 6% year-over-year, with full game contributing $633 million, down 3% year-over-year.
- The decline was due to underperformances in key franchises like Dragon Age and temporary underperformance in EA Sports FC, partly due to software acquisition issues and competitive cohort engagement.

Live Services and Global Football Performance:
- Live services and other revenue accounted for $1.58 billion, down 8% year-over-year.
- The decline was primarily due to a mid-single-digit decline in global football net bookings, impacted by slower-than-anticipated software acquisition and engagement churn.

Acquisition and Engagement Challenges in EA Sports FC:
- EA Sports FC started Q3 strongly but faced downside due to slower new player acquisition and unusual engagement churn in a competitive cohort.
- Significant gameplay updates and event launches showed positive trends, reactivating over 2 million Ultimate Team players.

Strong Performance in American Football and Sims:
- American football ecosystem showed double-digit growth in players and unique spenders, while Sims franchise delivered year-over-year net bookings growth.
- This growth was driven by increased player engagement and new content offerings, despite unforeseen challenges in other franchises.

Future Growth and Strategic Initiatives:
- EA remains confident in returning to growth in FY '26, with significant contributions expected from Battlefield, College Football 26, and SCAPE launches.
- The company is also investing in expanding its technology functions and enhancing its creative production strength to drive future growth.