Electronic Arts and UFC Extend Multi-Year Partnership to Bring More Great Games to Fight Fans Around the World
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) has renewed its partnership with the UFC for an additional multi-year term, solidifying its commitment to developing mixed martial arts (MMA) video games. This agreement builds upon a decade-long collaboration, enhancing the EA SPORTS™ UFC® franchise. Following the launch of EA SPORTS UFC 4, which saw a 125% increase in simulated fight participation compared to its predecessor, the renewed partnership aims to innovate gameplay and expand accessibility across platforms, including mobile. This renewal promises to intensify engagement with the growing MMA fanbase.
- Multi-year partnership renewal with UFC enhances EA's commitment to MMA games.
- EA SPORTS UFC 4 displayed a 125% increase in simulated fights compared to the previous edition.
- Partnership aims to innovate gameplay and expand access to more platforms, including mobile.
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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) and UFC announced a multi-year renewal of their partnership to continue to deliver authentic, innovative, and thrilling mixed martial arts (MMA) games. Millions of players worldwide for years to come will get to compete in the virtual octagon through the EA SPORTS™ UFC® franchise.
The new agreement arrives as the world is playing and watching more EA SPORTS UFC than ever before as MMA fandom continues to grow. Fans played more than 64 million simulated UFC fights during the EA SPORTS UFC 4 launch week, a 125 percent year-over-year increase compared with the previous edition, EA SPORTS UFC 3. EA SPORTS UFC 4 launch weekend timed alongside UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 enhanced the connection to the sport driving a spike of almost 75 percent more players than EA SPORTS UFC 3.
“We’re thrilled to extend our more than 10-year partnership with the UFC as we continue to build one of the fastest-growing sports franchises in the world, based on the rapidly expanding sport of MMA,” said Cam Weber, Executive Vice President & Group GM, EA SPORTS. “This agreement will allow us to push the creative boundaries of mixed martial arts video games and connect millions more around the world to the culture of the sport.”
“We’re thrilled that we will continue our partnership with EA for the next 10 years,” said Tracey Bleczinski, Senior Vice President, UFC Global Consumer Products. “EA SPORTS has become a natural extension of UFC’s brand and an important way to engage with our fans. We’ve just launched our most successful game to date and EA keeps proving there’s room to grow and introduce new fans to the sport. We’re going to keep pushing the boundaries together and make incredible games that UFC fans love to play.”
EA SPORTS and the UFC will also partner on innovative new experiences and more ways for fans around the world to connect with the excitement of MMA. The partnership will include more forms of play and self-expression, available on more platforms, including expanded future offerings for mobile players. This partnership will also focus on design, visualization, and development innovations for the games to grow and deepen the world of EA SPORTS UFC, impacting how they play and feel, and how players connect to the sport as it happens.
The announcement follows the release of EA SPORTS UFC 4 for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One on August 14, 2020 and delivers the most polished MMA experience to date. UFC® middleweight champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya and UFC welterweight contender Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal serve as the game’s official cover athlete duo. Join the EA SPORTS UFC community on Facebook and Instagram, or follow on Twitter @EASPORTSUFC.
For more information about EA SPORTS, please visit www.easports.com.
*EA has the exclusive rights to UFC worldwide except for China featuring games with MMA as the primary activity.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.
In fiscal year 2020, EA posted GAAP net revenue of
EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Madden, NFL and FIFA are properties of their respective owners and used with permission.
About the UFC
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 126 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 171 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 72 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
Category: EA Sports
