EA Mobile

EA Mobile Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Video games
Founded	2004 (2004)
Founder	John Batter
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Samantha Ryan (SVP and General Manager)
Products	Mobile games, ringtone applications, software for PDAs and personal computers
Number of employees	800+ (2017)
Parent	Electronic Arts

EA Mobile Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Electronic Arts (EA), focusing on the development of video games specifically designed for mobile devices. Established by John Batter and based in Los Angeles, California, the company produces not only mobile games but also software such as ringtone applications and titles for PDAs and personal computers.

The studio’s diverse catalog covers various genres, including fighting, puzzle, and sports games. Prominent offerings feature mobile adaptations of The Sims, Need for Speed, FIFA, along with the top-selling paid mobile game Tetris. Additional key releases encompass mobile versions of Bejeweled, Worms World Party, licensed NFL, NBA, and MLB games, plus multiple editions of Monopoly.

In 2017, EA Mobile reported revenues amounting to $637 million and employed over 800 staff members. The company maintains strategic alliances with leading wireless carriers in North America such as Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T, along with important partners in Europe and Asia. Its worldwide presence includes offices located in Montreal, London, Tokyo, Hyderabad, Honolulu, Bucharest, and São Paulo.

EA Mobile’s business approach positions it as an intermediary connecting game creators—who develop concepts into playable products—and wireless service providers responsible for delivering these games to consumers. The firm also creates proprietary software libraries to assist partner developers and manages quality assurance processes to uphold product excellence. This strategic role contributes significantly to EA Mobile’s leadership within the wireless gaming sector.

Foundation

Founded in 2004 by experienced EA personnel under the leadership of John Batter (General Manager), EA Mobile launched with key executives including Linda Chaplin (US sales), Lincoln Wallen (CTO), John Burn (European sales), Jay Miller (US sales), and Mike McCabe (Asian sales). The division debuted its products simultaneously across markets in the US, Europe, and Asia.

JAMDAT acquisition

EA Mobile expanded its reach in 2006 by acquiring JAMDAT Mobile for $680 million. JAMDAT was established in 2000 by former Activision executives Scott Lahman, Zack Norman, and Austin Murray. The company went public in 2003 and achieved success with mobile titles based on The Lord of the Rings. In 2003, JAMDAT also acquired Hexacto, a Montreal-based developer, to diversify its offerings. The acquisition was completed in February 2006, leading to the retirement of the JAMDAT brand.

Further expansion

On August 8, 2007, Barry Cottle joined EA Mobile as Senior Vice President and General Manager. In October 2010, EA Mobile acquired Chillingo, a UK-based publisher specializing in iPhone and iPad games, for $20 million in cash; however, popular titles such as Cut the Rope were not included in this transaction.

Samantha Ryan was appointed SVP and General Manager of EA Mobile in July 2015 and later took on oversight responsibilities for Maxis and BioWare amid EA’s corporate restructuring. By 2017, the division reached nearly $700 million in annual revenue with a workforce of approximately 800 employees.

In May 2022, EA Mobile collaborated with EA Capital Games and Middle-earth Enterprises to create The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth, a mobile role-playing game launched on May 10, 2023. Although it received mixed to positive feedback from critics, the game was discontinued just over a year later amid widespread layoffs impacting Electronic Arts.

Subsequently, EA announced plans to shut down The Simpsons: Tapped Out after twelve years of operation, with closure set for January 24, 2025.

See also

• Gameloft

External links

• Official website of EA Mobile