REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) announced today a licensing agreement with
Zuffa, LLC, to produce and distribute videogames bearing its Ultimate
Fighting Championship ® (UFC) brand. The new multi-year,
multi-product partnership will provide EA the exclusive rights to
develop UFC videogames, which will be developed and marketed under the
EA SPORTS™ brand.
EA SPORTS to Produce UFC Videogames Under Licensing Agreement With Zuffa, LLC (Photo: Business Wire)
"We're thrilled to begin a long-term partnership that will bring fans
incredibly authentic, and deeply connected, UFC videogames," said Andrew
Wilson, EVP and Head of EA SPORTS. "UFC has become a global powerhouse
because they have the world's best fighters, competing in the world's
best mixed martial arts events. We share UFC's passion for the sport,
and we look forward to capturing all of the intensity and excitement of
the action with unique new game experiences across a range of platforms."
Zuffa has licensed to EA the UFC rights previously held by THQ, Inc.
(THQI).
"We'd like to thank THQ for creating some of the most
critically-acclaimed sports videogames of this console generation, and
we're excited to enter a new relationship with EA that will help us
deepen our connection with fighting fans around the world," said UFC
President Dana White. "There's no one better at creating authentic
sports videogames than EA SPORTS, and we're excited to have a partner
who shares our vision of deep, connected and multi-platform global game
experiences."
"We've relished our relationship with UFC over the last several years
and believe that the UFC gaming brand is in great shape. THQ's more
focused strategy moving forward meant that transferring the license to
EA made sense to all parties," said THQ CEO Brian Farrell. "We'd like to
thank the UFC for their great support and partnership and wish EA all
the best moving forward."
EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the
world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive
technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital
experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports
through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, content and
online services for videogame consoles, personal computers, mobile
phones, tablets and social networks. EA SPORTS game franchises include Madden
NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE
basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing and Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR® golf.
For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs,
forums and game communities, please visit www.easports.com
to connect, share and compete.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive
entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services
for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones,
tablets and social networks. EA has more than 220 million registered
players and operates in 75 countries.
In fiscal 2012, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.1 billion.
Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a
portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such
as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield™ and
Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.
EA SPORTS, The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts
Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and
Publishing) Ltd. Battlefield is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE
AB. John Madden, NFL, FIFA, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger Woods and PGA TOUR are
the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About UFC
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can't-miss events that
have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe,
the UFC® is the world's premier mixed martial arts organization. Owned
and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices
in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC® produces more than 30 live events
annually and is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. In
2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year
broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes
four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional
fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX
properties FX and FUEL TV. This includes the longest-running sports
reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which now air on FX
in an exciting new live format.
In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over
149 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in
20 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in
the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions
and in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc.
and in Quebec through Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of
millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media
sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one
of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over two
million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include
best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV
offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the
best-selling UFC Undisputed® video game franchise distributed by THQ,
UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals,
branded apparel and trading cards.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50299034&lang=en
EA SPORTS
David Tinson, 650-628-5189
VP, Communications
dtinson@ea.com
or
UFC
Caren
Bell, 702-588-5574
VP, Communications
cbell@ufc.com
Source: Electronic Arts
News Provided by Acquire Media