DEVELOP 100: How EA Canada triumphed

Yesterday Develop launched the latest edition of its widely-read Develop 100, a ranking of the best studios in the world.

Over the coming weeks Develop will be publishing extracts and highlight data from the book, which uses GfK Chart-Track research on retail sales to formulate a ranking based on UK revenues.

The Develop 100 is an iPad-exclusive book, available for just £4.99 via the Develop iPad app. Click here to download it.

Today, we are looking at the No.1 studio, EA Canada…

EA Canada

History: Founded in 1983 as Distinctive Software. Now owned by EA, acquired in 1991. Located in Burnaby, Canada.

EA Canada has been No.1 in the Develop 100 three previous times. This year it beat Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games to the top spot as development of their Modern Warfare 3 means revenues were split between the two for our listing – despite the fact that MW3 outgrossed FIFA 12.

Success in 2011: EA Canada’s games made £113.27m in revenue at UK retail last year.

The studio’s top five games last year were new releases FIFA 12 – which sold £89.27m across 360, PS3, PSP, 3DS, PS2 and PC – Fight Night Champion and NHL, plus back catalogue sales of FIFA 11 and EA Sports Active 2.

Analysis: EA is a worthy No.1. As well as still being a creator of best-selling boxed games, it has made massive strides in selling digital content. FIFA add-on Ultimate Team, on console, adds a collectible card game element to the disc-based game. This year, the studio opted to put out its seasonal UEFA 2012 as DLC for FIFA 12, not a standalone disc. Elsewhere, the FIFA series continues to grow its ‘companion’ audience on iOS and other digital devices. Even in South Korea, a free-to-play version is a commercial smash.

Want to know more? EA Canada’s entry includes a wealth more info – and there are dedicated profiles for each of the studios in the top 100. Get the Develop 100 now.