Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
EA Shelves Distribution Plans
It's been a tough few months for Electronic Arts. After downsizing its workforce and canceling some unannounced projects, the company now says it's moving away from distributing externally developed games.
Electronic Arts has distributed such high-profile games as MTV's Rock Band and Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, but the publisher/developer says that distribution just doesn't pay out as much as internally developed titles. Or, as COO John Schappert put it, "While we have great relationships with our partners, we are modeling a reduction in our distribution business as we concentrate on higher-margin EA-owned titles and digital initiative." There were no Rock Band games listed in EA's recent outlook for the fiscal year, so perhaps this phasing out is already starting.
Companies turn to big publishers like EA for their retail distribution and marketing needs because it's something they either can't or don't want to do themselves.
While EA should take a short term hit (website Gamasutra estimates a $450 million loss in distribution from last year), if this move means EA concentrates more on its own internally developed product, then it could be the right move in the long term.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
