Innovation and Intensity are the Only Constant for a Racing
Franchise that Re-Invents Itself Year After Year
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct 21, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) is proud to announce today that the Need
for Speed(TM) franchise has surpassed 100M units sold life to date.*
The newest release, Need for Speed SHIFT, pushes the franchise
over the 100M mark, making it the best-selling racing brand in the
gaming world. Need for Speed has become a driving force for
innovation in the racing genre. Known for delivering unparalleled
white-knuckle racing, creative customization and street style, the Need
for Speed series has generated over $2.7B in life-to-date sales and
has become a powerful pop culture phenomenon.
"Few videogame franchises ever reach the 100M units mark, so this is a
huge honor. We have millions of fans to thank for driving us to this
milestone," said Frank Gibeau, president, EA Games Label. "With the
launch of Need for Speed SHIFT and the upcoming release of Need
for Speed NITRO, we hope to continue to deliver the most
entertaining, action-packed racing experiences."
Since the release of Need for Speed in 1994, the franchise has...
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Launched 15 blockbuster titles across more than 14 platforms
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Released in 22 languages in over 60 countries
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Players have raced over 279 billion miles of roads & race tracks
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Generated over 17 trillion user-generated vehicle customizations
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Featured actors, models & musicians including: Brooke Burke (Wild
On), Christina Milian (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past),
Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men), Josie Maran (Sports
Illustrated swimsuit model and actress), Maggie Q (Mission:
Impossible III), Kanye West, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Prodigy
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Debuted exclusive remix from Snoop Dogg of The Door's classic song
Riders on the Storm
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Sold more games than all new passenger cars sales in the U.S since
1994**
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If Need for Speed boxes were laid out end-to-end, it would span
173,609 football fields
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100M units represents nearly every household in the United States and
is 3x the population of Canada
This year, there are three titles being launched under the Need for
Speed franchise. Need for Speed SHIFT delivers a true
driver's experience and has been heralded by press worldwide for being
the most exciting and polished Need for Speed game in years. SHIFT
is available on the PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system, Xbox
360(R) video game and entertainment system, PC, and PlayStation(R)Portable
system. Shipping in November, Need for Speed NITRO has
been developed specifically for the Wii(TM) and Nintendo DS to capture the
fun and exhilaration of arcade racing at 200 MPH. Need for Speed
World Online for the PC is the largest open world game in the
history of Need for Speed, with an extensive roster of licensed
cars and game modes - all for free online. The game follows the free to
play business model which generates revenue through advertising and
in-game item sales. World Online will begin the beta process in
Taiwan this winter and will open to players around the world in fall
2010.
More information about the Need for Speed franchise can be found
at www.needforspeed.com,
or follow us on Twitter at NeedforSpeed. Press can download assets at http://info.ea.com.
*According to internal EA data
**93.8 Million according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA Mobile TM
and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of
$4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies.
EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, POGO and Need for Speed are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries. The names, designs, and logos of all products are the
property of their respective owners and used by permission.
Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of
companies. "PlayStation" and "PSP" are registered trademarks of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of
Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6078549&lang=en
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
Electronic Arts Inc.
Dana Sissons, 604-456-5004
Senior Publicist
dsissons@ea.com
Peter Nguyen, 650-628-6307
Director
pnguyen@ea.com
Tammy Schachter, 650-628-7223
Senior Director
tschachter@ea.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009