EA reported $6.19 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2021 (ending April 2021), which marks an increase of 15% year over year and is $600 million above EA’s own expected projections. However, the biggest piece of this data might be where that revenue came from. Niko Partners Senior Analyst Daniel Ahmad reports that 74% of EA’s net bookings for FY2021 came from live services and other sources, including things like DLC and microtransactions across its games. Only 26% of EA’s total revenue for the past year came from premium game sales, either from digital storefronts or physical boxed products.
Ahmad further notes that live service and other revenue is up 28% year over year, while premium game sales revenue fell by 10% in the same period.
Also worth noting that 74% of EA’s net bookings came from live services and other revenue, up 28% YoY. This includes DLC, Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, mobile etc…
Its premium game sales are now only 26% of total net bookings and declined 10% YoY.
? Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) May 11, 2021

Some of EA’s biggest franchises are its yearly sports titles that rely heavily on in-game microtransactions, like FIFA’s Ultimate Team cards. It also has the free-to-play Apex Legends and The Sims 4, both of which feature extensive post-launch purchase options for players. The live service revenue also includes EA’s mobile ventures.
This is just part of a larger industry trend that we’re seeing towards in...