Electronic Arts Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

F1 25 review

Sebastian Vettel's reminder about cherishing current moments resonates within the context of the F1 gaming franchise, particularly with the release of F1 25 on May 30, 2025, developed by Codemasters and published by Electronic Arts. The game is priced at £50 and is the 17th annual edition of the official F1 game. F1 25 features a nine-hour story in Braking Point 3, concluding the saga with character development for Aiden Jackson and introducing California Mayer as a rival. The game includes an email system for team management, allowing players to connect with staff achievements. However, it has faced criticism for its handling model, particularly for pad control, and contains bugs like incorrect radio messages. The game showcases modern advancements such as path-traced lighting but may struggle with performance on lower-end graphics cards. Overall, while F1 25 offers a high-quality racing experience, it lacks significant innovation compared to its predecessors.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Nacon secures WRC rights

French publisher Nacon has become the new partner of the World Rally Championship (WRC) and has secured exclusive rights to develop PC and console titles based on the tournament from 2027 to 2032. This announcement follows Electronic Arts' decision to pause development on its own WRC series. Nacon's CEO, Alain Falc, highlighted the company's ambition to create a refined driving experience and emphasized the importance of their previous partnership with WRC Promoter from 2015 to 2023. FIA WRC's chief marketing officer, Arne Dirks, expressed optimism about the collaboration, indicating it could lead to innovative developments in rally gaming.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

A month after Electronic Arts mashed the brakes, WRC rally racing games are coming back with a ‘complete reboot’ under a new publisher

The FIA has partnered with Nacon to revive the World Rally Championship (WRC) gaming series, set to launch in 2027, following the end of its licensing agreement with Codemasters. Nacon will have exclusive rights to develop WRC games for PC and consoles over the next six seasons. Arne Dirks, the FIA's chief marketing officer, expressed excitement about the collaboration. Kylotonn, the studio likely to develop the games, has received mixed reviews for its past WRC titles, with WRC 7 rated "very positive" and WRC 10 rated "mostly positive" on Steam. Community reactions are mixed, with some fans disappointed by the change from Codemasters, while others are cautiously optimistic about Kylotonn's progress in game quality.

AppWizard

May 18, 2025

EA is reportedly cracking down on a Sims 4 mod. What it changes has fans furious

The Sims 4, developed by Electronic Arts, has maintained its popularity for over ten years, supported by a dedicated fan base and compatibility with modern hardware. The game recently released the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack in March, allowing players to start their own small businesses. The community has also created numerous fan-made mods, some of which enhance gameplay, while others have sparked controversy, such as a mod aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) elements. This led to backlash and accusations of censorship when EA requested the mod's removal. Additionally, the conversation about diversity in video games has grown, with criticism directed at Sweet Baby Inc., a consulting firm, for its influence on narrative choices in games like Alan Wake 2 and God of War Ragnarok, resulting in organized boycotts against games associated with the firm.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Split Fiction has sold 4m copies

Split Fiction has sold over four million copies, as announced by Electronic Arts (EA) in its financial report for the quarter ending March 2025. EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, noted that the game exceeded expectations and gained global attention. The game sold one million copies within 48 hours of release and reached two million in its first week. A film adaptation is also reportedly in development.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

EA thinks it got Battlefield right this time, projecting confidence to investors in advance of a summer reveal: ‘When we get it right, Battlefield is a giant franchise and often the biggest shooter in the year’

EA is committed to incorporating player feedback into the next Battlefield game following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. CEO Andrew Wilson stated that this initiative represents "the biggest playtesting initiative in franchise history," with a dedicated group of playtesters already logging thousands of hours. The upcoming title, often referred to as Battlefield 6, is being developed under the leadership of Vince Zampella and involves multiple studios, including Ripple Effect, Motive, and Criterion. EA plans to expand its Battlefield Labs testing program to include more players ahead of a summer reveal, with only a brief 10-second clip released so far. Rumors suggest the new game will maintain the core elements expected by fans.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

EA pauses WRC development

Electronic Arts has paused the development of the World Rally Championship (WRC) franchise, as announced on their official website. The reasons for this decision are not disclosed. EA confirmed that the existing title, EA Sports WRC, will remain available for both current and new players. The company acquired the WRC rights in 2022 when it purchased Codemasters for .2 billion.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

EA says Codemasters won’t be making any more rally games: ‘We’ve reached the end of the road working on WRC’

Electronic Arts has confirmed that the 2024 season of EA Sports WRC will be the last collaboration with Codemasters on the World Rally Championship series, as EA pauses development plans for future rally titles. Codemasters, acquired by EA in 2021, will shift its focus primarily to Formula 1 racing games, with the upcoming release of F1 25 scheduled for May 30. The FIA acknowledged the advancements in the WRC gaming franchise due to EA Sports and Codemasters and hinted at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

EA makes job cuts at Respawn

Electronic Arts is implementing layoffs at Respawn Entertainment, affecting approximately 100 employees, due to the discontinuation of two early-stage incubation projects, including an extraction shooter set in the Titanfall universe, codenamed R7. Additionally, EA is reducing between 300 and 400 positions across the company, primarily within the Experiences team. Respawn has assured fans of its ongoing commitment to developing Apex Legends and its Star Wars titles. EA's representative stated that the layoffs are part of a strategy to align teams and allocate resources for future growth. Respawn expressed gratitude to affected employees and is offering support, while reaffirming its dedication to player-first experiences and innovation.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

I miss old PopCap like you miss old BioWare

From 2000 to 2010, PopCap Games dominated the casual gaming market, influencing the design of many subsequent mobile games. The studio's notable titles included Peggle Extreme, featured in Valve's The Orange Box, and Gyromancer, a collaboration with Square Enix. PopCap's games often drew inspiration from earlier concepts, such as Zuma from Puzz Loop and Bejeweled from the Russian game Shariki. After being acquired by Electronic Arts, PopCap shifted towards mobile and free-to-play models, leading to the decline of its original PC titles. Despite this change, the spirit of PopCap's creativity persists in the indie gaming scene, with games like Donut County and Peglin reflecting its innovative approach. Bookworm Adventures remains accessible through the Internet Archive, contributing to PopCap's lasting legacy.