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Positive Star Wars Battlefront Reception Means EA Is Raising Sales Targets

Here's everything you need to know from EA's latest earnings report.

101 Comments

Electronic Arts on Thursday reported earnings for the quarter ended September 30. The company beat expectations, though revenue and profit slid compared to the same quarter last year.

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For the quarter, EA posted revenue of $1.146 billion, down slightly from $1.220 during the same period last year. Profit also dropped slightly, coming in at $212 million for the latest quarter, compared to $232 million.

EA launched some its big sports games during the period, but didn't disclose any hard numbers for them. Instead, the company announced that monthly average players for the games that launched in the quarter--Madden NFL 16, NHL 16, and FIFA 16--increased 30 percent compared to last year.

The Ultimate Team modes for those games continued to do well for EA, as combined net revenue derived from them was up 64 percent year-over-year. On the mobile side, Madden NFL Mobile "game sessions" increased by more than 300 percent compared to last year's game.

In addition, PC MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic subscribers rose 33 percent following BioWare's announcement of the game's latest expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire, at E3 in June. EA did not, however, share a new total subscriber figure. Even if they did, it wouldn't tell the whole story, as the free-to-play's game's subscriptions are only optional.

In the shooter space, Battlefield Hardline and Battlefield 4 together averaged more than 6 million monthly players. EA did not say how this figure breaks down between the two titles.

"Results exceeded our expectations again," EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said in a statement. "Based on the ongoing strength of our business and reception of Star Wars Battlefront, we are raising our full-year outlook for the second time. Our markets are very healthy, the digital transition continues to drive margins, and engagement in our live services and excitement for our upcoming launches is exceptional."

EA's new net revenue target for the full fiscal year is $4.5 billion, up by $50 million from the company's previous forecast. The recently concluded Star Wars Battlefront beta attracted 9.5 million players, an all-time high for an EA beta. The full game launches on November 17 and is expected to ship 13 million copies.

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lnception

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I'm waiting for Star Wars Battlefront to bomb so another studio can handle it, with a lot more care.

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Tanares

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Edited By Tanares

@lnception: Won't happen. EA signed into exclusive rights to any and all Star Wars games for the forseeable future. Basically Star Wars is going to become SCI FI Madden.

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Tanares

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Let's face it folks, the beta probably increased the sales of Fallout 4 =D

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jcharp

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I enjoyed the beta alright, but not enough to go out and buy the game right away. I'll wait till it goes on sale or I find a used copy for around $30. Hell, in a year, they'll probably package the game and all the dlc together and sell it as a bundle. There are plenty of other games to play until then.

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XCrimsonxSynX

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Edited By XCrimsonxSynX

@jcharp: Agreed. A mp only game at full price with a $50 season pass is not very appealing. Beta was alright, but not great. Should have released the beta earlier in the year.

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LTJohnnyRico

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Its Starwars of course its going to be positive !! And the Beta was pretty good !! I think its a safe bet for them that this will sell well !!

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losstoney

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big fan of battlefront and of star wars. Not going to touch this game even with a 100 meter pole. Worst beta ever and destroyed my view on battlefront. Shame was looking forward to this game for so long........

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LTJohnnyRico

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@losstoney: Even with a 100 meter pole ?? Happen to have one just lying around do you ?

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CFritzRun

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If it didn't have a Star Wars skin, then this game would bomb. HORRIBLY.

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H0RSE

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If history tells me anything, it's that those that speak the loudest on forums tend to be the vocal minority, in this case, everyone saying how bad the game is.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@H0RSE: That is very true ... EA Got a lot of positive feedback I send some myself directly to them as I don't they they would view the comments section of GS ... Also its now cool to hate so a lot of people are jumping on that band wagon. Personally I try to remain positive about things, I actually liked the beta and have pre -ordered the Game.

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Tanares

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Gotta love how clueless executives and investors are. They confuse 'curious' with 'positive'. Yeah, even I tried the beta. It was a waste of time. The terrible part is this game won't be a disaster for EA because it's freakin' Star Wars.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@Tanares: Its not the only measure they use and Executives and Investors (Baring in mind that is a very diverse Group) can be a lot more clue'd up that some of the kiddie Gamers that post on here !! (That wasn't Aimed at you BTW)

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Tanares

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@ltjohnnyrico: I duobt they even read their own forums. I mean they actually tried that with Hardline, which is a good game that gets a lot of bad rep... but why even try to improve? It's Star Wars. They have an exclusive license to the IP. Even if this game is a 1 on gamespot or other sites it'll still print money on name alone.

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LTJohnnyRico

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Edited By LTJohnnyRico

@Tanares: You are not wrong there !! the "Starwars" name alone will net them millions

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Shelledfade1

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Edited By Shelledfade1

lol positive reception.. ?

I was on their forums during the beta. Did I miss something? Where was the positive reception?

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kmetek1975

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the very second i saw 50$ season pass annoucment, it was dead order for me.
plus no single player = pass for me or preowned for 25€ max.

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alpha_unit97

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I can just picture the executives at EA after the beta: "What do you mean poor reception? We can create positive reception by paying the media!"

...2 weeks later: "Positive Star Wars Battlefront reception means EA is raising sales targets".

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Setzera

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Makes me wonder if EA has a Buttters to edit out all the negative feedback. (New South Park reference)

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XenomorphAlien

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I only heard positive reception about how much people hate the game.

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nurnberg

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Edited By nurnberg

@xenomorphalien: Forum elitists hipsters do not represent the gaming population.

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XenomorphAlien

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@nurnberg: Hehe, all my friends that wanted to buy it are buying it on sale at best.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@xenomorphalien: Vocal Minority !! Kids on here love to hate !!

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jcharp

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@ltjohnnyrico: This is true. If you went by the forums alone, you would assume that Destiny is the biggest failure of all time. But Bungie is making a ton of money off that game and it's getting generally good reviews. Some people just like to hate things because that's what everyone else is doing.

As for me, I didn't hate the Battlefront beta, but I did have some concerns. Overall, I found it to be pretty enjoyable. I won't be buying the game right away since I think the pricing plan they have for it is a bit unreasonable. Instead, I'll be patient and pick it up when I don't have to spend over $100 to get all the maps.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@jcharp: Thanks for the response .. i enjoyed the beta and decided to preorder .. but there are plently of games coming soon that look great so wouldnt say you were wrong to wait.

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berserker66666

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Edited By berserker66666

Positive reception for Star Wars Battlefront? Is EA high? Oh wait....you mean all the paid review sites who's praising this mediocre game?

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AyatollaofRnR

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The beta inspired people to cancel their preorder and wait for reviews. EA are lying to their shareholders. lol

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LTJohnnyRico

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Edited By LTJohnnyRico

@AyatollaofRnR: Wait for reviews ... I'l be making my own mind up ... not sure I need someone to do it for me !! I am keeping my preorder in place !!

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weisguy119

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Everyone I know loved the beta. I did as well. We're all counting the days until release.

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coop36

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Sounds like theyre trying to use reverse psychology. I dont know anyone that enjoyed the beta very much.

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silversix_

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Edited By silversix_

Positive? Shit has no content and its positive? What? WHATTTT? Why does this game reminds me of Destiny so much?

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LTJohnnyRico

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@silversix_: No content ? not all of it was unlocked in the beta !!

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NyaDC

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How did this game have a positive reception? 9/10 people I've talked to who were interested in it (including myself) have found nothing but disappointment and a hollow dumbed down experience.

I and many others went into that beta with the expectation and intent to buy the game, I left with no intention of buying and so did countless, countless others....

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Doulos1382

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Edited By Doulos1382

Yes, it had very bad reception. Because it's not a copy & paste of the old Battlefronts, because that's what people wanted, the old Battlefronts with prettier graphics, right? And remember kids, the old battlefronts were UNIQUE! Yes that right, UNIQUE, no other game in the whole history of gaming existed like the old Battlefronts. So those who like it because they enjoy it somehow can suck it, this new shit, is bad because no UNIQUE, so no buy, period.

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Tiwill44

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Um... are they joking? Literally every person on this planet hated it. Literally.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@Tiwill44: I sense the sarcasm is strong in this one .. Keep it up !! I like It !!

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cboye18

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@Tiwill44: No, the casuals loved it. Unfortunately, they are the majority.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@cboye18: Yes and if you have a job or a family you are also in that category !! Average Gamer age is mid thirties .. most people that age have Jobs and Families ... Most people that don't are either Kids .. Retired or Pro Gamers !!

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Doulos1382

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Edited By Doulos1382

@Tiwill44: Literally, nope, bad use of the word.

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Tiwill44

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@Doulos1382: I know... I was merely mocking those who were saying that there was zero positive reception. I mean, I've seen the positive reception myself. I don't agree, but it's there. Plus it's Star Wars so there's always going to be positive reception.

My bad though, I should have added a few "!" and ended it with "/s" to better capture the sarcasm.

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Doulos1382

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@Tiwill44: good one.

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RelGn

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Talking about ea?

You should be out of your brain.

starwars battlefront is bullcr4p

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Thanatos2k

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I don't know about you, but I haven't seen any positive reception.

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Mezzanine58

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@Thanatos2kI've seen plenty. In places other than Gamespot, and, wait for it... real life. It has gone down well, even more so with Star Wars fans themselves. As much as many people on this site rather spitefully want it to fail, it won't.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@mezzanine58: There has been loads of positive feedback !! I know a lot of people who are getting this. It'l be Fun !! And Its Starwars so no it wont fail !! but the Haters gotta Hate !!

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Thanatos2k

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@mezzanine58: In real life, among my real friends, who are real people who play real games, not a single person was impressed by this game, and none are excited for it.

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Ninives

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Rolf! That was a good joke!

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