EA ups Star Wars: Battlefront forecasts as Ultimate Team drives earnings

Publisher EA now expects upcoming shooter Star Wars: Battlefront to sell 13m units this financial year.

Previously it had predicted the game, out next month, would sell between 9-10m units. Over 9.5m players took part in the recent beta and pre-orders are said to be very strong. EA also reckons sales will continue into the following fiscal year, too, thanks to ongoing interest in the brand and the game’s already announced expansion packs.

Revenues for EA’s Q2 hit $815m, which was down on last year’s $990m but above estimates. It also reported a GAAP loss of $140m. Non-GAAP net income was pegged at $212m.

The driver of the success was massive interest in EA’s online activities, with monthly average users of the FIFA and Madden series up 30 per cent year-on-year. There’s success in other genres two, with Battlefield Hardline and Battlefield 4 boasting 6m monthly active users between them.

Digital games accounted for 62 per cent of EA’s total revenue, as per GAAP.

EA has also confirmed that its agreement with Disney is long-term, with more Star Wars game being planned. It did not specifically mention Jade Raymond and Amy Hennig’s in-development Star Wars title.

The company has now raised its full-year guidance to predict revenues of $4.4bn for the year.