Halloween is a scary time of year, no less when you’re posting a $310 million net loss. EA CEO John Riccitiello sees “weakness” at retail in October and we’re betting this isn’t the end of the road of sorrow for game publishers around the globe.
Electronic Arts isn’t unfamiliar with bad times and we’re sure to see them make constant adjustments to their headcount, game releases and press as the economy goes into a bit of a slump. Although the game industry won’t see as big a hit as the financial market, everyone is going to watch their spending during slower economic times.
That slowness is a red flag for the mega-publisher, which says it’s “proactively making cost adjustments now.” One of those adjustments is the axing of some 600 EA employees across the globe. (Kotaku)
Last year Electronic Arts lost a “small” $195 million during the same time, not exactly a gold star on the financial records but it sure looks better than this loss. A few games may crumble under the economic pressures, Tiberium for example, but let us not forget the good times! EA posted some nice figures for Spore, Madden NFL 09, Warhammer: Age of Reckoning and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.
So, they mixed a few sequels with a few new franchise hits and gave gamers some pretty hot titles for the year. Of course, hot titles in our hand do not always translate to positive revenue in theirs.
Personally I find the Persona 5 anti-streaming rules insane. If you’re worried that “spoiling” your game will make people not want to buy it then you probably should have made it better in the first place. For good games, streamers and YouTubers help to draw sales by increasing interest in games. Here in America there is a certain subset into the Persona series, but for most of the populous these are an enigma. This isn’t Japan where everyone is balls-deep in the series. Increased U.S. exposure can only increase sales.
Persona 5’s policy is interesting!
I want to know more about the developing Maniac Mansion game…
It’s an Easter Egg in Day of the Tentacle Remastered.
http://dott.doublefine.com/