Video game publisher Electronic Arts has reported $185M, and Take-Two Interactive $99M, profit for the second quarter.

EA: changes to release dates drag on period

In the second quarter of its fiscal year 2021, which ended 30 September, Electronic Arts (EA) generated $1.15B USD in net revenue, down 15% year-on-year. The period saw a 30.7% fall in net bookings (total net revenues added to the change in deferred net revenues for online and mobile game fees), falling to $910M.

Despite dropping by 45% , the majority of net bookings, some $513M, was contributed by EA’s console products, though both PC and mobile grew by 4% each, adding $225M and $172M respectively. 

According to EA, the drop in revenue is attributable to the decision to move the launch of Madden NFL 21 back, and move FIFA 21 from Q2 to Q3 – resulting in an estimated $525M of net bookings to shift from Q2 to Q3 and Q4 of fiscal year 2021. 

Despite the subdued results, EA noted that the FIFA player base has hit almost 35M globally, while Madden has seen a 30% year-on-year increase in players, and Apex Legends grew 20% year-on-year, and is on track to contribute more than $500M in revenue for the fiscal year – making it EA’s next billion-dollar franchise. 

Staying with Electronic Arts, earlier today we reported that EA Sports has renewed its partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL), and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), allowing it to continue developing its EA SPORTS NHL 21 game.

Take-Two: revenue down, but in-game purchases drive profit up

Take-Two Interactive Software, developer of popular basketball sim NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K20, also saw revenue drop in its FY 2020 Q2, down 2% year-on-year to $841M.

Despite this, revenues from in-game purchases, virtual currency, and add-on content actually surged by 56%, contributing a significant 59% of total net revenues, and the company ended the second quarter with a net profit of $99.3M, up a healthy 38.3% year-on-year.

In addition to its basketball titles, Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and the WWE series, also contributed strongly to revenue. 

Staying with Take-Two’s offering, earlier today we reported that USA Basketball is entering esports for the first time, creating an E-National Team ahead of the FIBA Esports Open II, which will be played on T2’s NBA 2K21 title. 

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