What are Electronic Arts working on - A look at their studios
Electronic Arts are one of the worlds leading game creators and publishers, they make games for consoles, PC and mobile. With games that can be a single player epic, a year long ritual or one to start today and never finish.
2021 was a slower year for the studio, they released their usual line up of sports titles of course, as well as an EA Original here and there, but there wasn’t a lot happening in the grand scheme. 2022 though looks like it will be different, there are a lot of games we think are coming this year, and some we hope are, so without delay, lets take a look at the studios of EA and what they might be working on.
Bioware
Edmonton
Series known to them: Mass Effect series, Dragon Age series
2021 saw Mass Effect fans get some time back in the boots of Commander Shepperd as the Mass Effect Trilogy brough the original three titles back to last-gen consoles, updated with new visuals, gameplay tweaks and more.
2022 however is going to be a different year for the studio, we know that the team are working on the next generation Mass Effect, they released a new teaser poster at the end of last year and everything, but their next game is going to be Dragon Age, the problem is, we have been hearing about that game for years now and apart from a teaser trailer, which is below, we don’t know much about it. Will it release this year, it is unlikely, given how Anthem bombed at release, Bioware are likely taking their time to ensure their newer games, release in the best shape possible.
Austin
Series known to them: The Old Republic MMO
The Austin branch of Bioware is like a train at this point, they are on their track and they stick to the schedule, the team is responsible for the Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic and while they are dropping content and fixes all the time, they are also working on expansions for the game as well.
The next expansion Legacy of the Sith was due to release last year, but was delayed a few months, in order to make the expansion the best it can be, so it is now due out in February of this year. Beyond that, they will make new cosmetics, missions and events for the game as always, like I said, like a train.
Codemasters
Southam
Series known to them: GRID series
The headquarters for Codemasters is where a lot of their games pass through, at some point in their life cycle and while the studio wasn’t busy in 2021, that looks to be changing in 2022, when GRID Legends is released next month. With that release, expect to see support throughout the year for the game, in various forms, but don’t expect anything else from them this year.
Birmingham
Series known to them: F1 series
If you play the F1 series of racing games from Codemasters, this is the studio that makes them, as is tradition 2021 saw a new F1 game released and it was also the first release of a game from Codemasters, since the EA buy out.
The series is pretty annual at this point, so predicting a 2022 release of F1 is very likely, the only reason it would not happen, is if EA wanted to give them time to make big changes, something the team have been known to do quite often anyway.
Cheshire
Series known to them: Dirt 5
Formally Evolution Studios, this is the team that at one point made Motorstorm and Driveclub for PlayStation, before becoming a Codemasters studio. Their first release from within was Dirt 5, which did launch back at the end of 2020, so while the studio has had time since then, they did spend a lot of 2021 dropping new content updates for the game. With that, it is unlikely that they have a new game ready to release this year, though we might hear of it at least.
Kuala Lumpur
Series known to them: Nothing
Codemasters in Kuala Lumpur is their support studio, the folks here spend time creating assets for any and all of the games the company is working on, meaning that if you have played any game in the past 10+ years, there is a fair chance, some asset you saw was created here. As a support studio, they don’t make their own games, or I should say, they haven’t yet and while that is unlikely to change this year, there is no way to know (it won’t happen though)
India
Series known to them: Nothing
This is the team that provides Quality Assurance for all those racing games and as such they don’t make games.
Slightly Mad Studios
Series known to them: Project CARS series
There is a funny story about Slightly Mad Studios, when they first started making games, EA approached them and asked for a realistic Need for Speed title, which is how we got the Shift series, but after Shift 2 didn’t sell, the studios parted ways, but since Codemasters bought out these guys and then EA bought Codemasters, they are all back together again.
There isn’t much known about the 2022 plans for the team at Slightly Mad, Project Cars 3 released back in 2020 and the team generally have a three year cycle on them, so while we could see something this year, it is unlikely to release. What is more interesting is that the studio is apparently working on an unannounced Hollywood blockbuster title, though given their last effort with Fast & Furious Crossroads, I am not sure if that is a good thing. The only catch with this one, is there are no known details as to what it could be, so it might have turned to nothing, either way, I wouldn’t expect anything this year.
EA Games
Criterion Games
Series known to them: Burnout series, Need for Speed series
Having created one of the best arcade racers in Burnout and then some of the most fun Need for Speed titles, it was incredibly sad to see Criterion shuffled into being a support studio for others, with them handling the vehicle work in Battlefield 2042 last year.
That should change this year as the studio has been given the green light to work on the Need for Speed series again, as the studio that was started up to take it away from them, has been shuttered, we did get a brief behind the scenes look a while back for this year, but there is nothing beyond that, outside of EA aiming for a release this year.
DICE Stockholm
Series known to them: Battlefield series, Mirror’s Edge series
With Battlefield 2042 shipping last year, the team at DICE are just going to be focused on fixes and content for their latest shooter, so don’t expect a new game form them this year.
EA Baton Rouge
Series known to them: None
You might think a studio based in Louisiana would make amazing games, inspired by the region, but that is not what Baton Rouge do, instead this is the QA studio for the company, ensuring that what we get to play all works, so as such, they don’t make games.
EA Chillingo
Series known to them: Various mobile games
One of their more weirder buys, EA bought out Chillingo, who at the time were the publisher of mobile titles like Angry Birds and Cut the Rope. Since then, the group have helped other mobile developers release their games, like WarFriends, MicroMachines and more.
Given the way mobile game development is, if they release or help release other games this year, we won’t know until its done.
EA Galway
Series known to them: None
Galway is a studio in name only, the group is the support arm of the company both in QA for games, like Baton Rouge and support for the various digital platforms that the company uses to make games. They are also the support centre for customers who buy things online via EA, so the odds of them having a game are slim.
EA Gothenburg
Series known to them: Need for Speed series
When this group was founded, they went under the name Ghost Games and since 2013, they were the ones creating Need for Speed games, but in early 2020 the studio was told they would no longer be making those games. Instead they got renamed and then moved into a technological support role for things like Frostbite
Full Circle
Series known to them: Skate 4
This is the studio that EA started up to reboot the Skate series, they are making Skate 4. While the studio was pretty quiet in 2021, expect to hear more from them this year as work on the next Skate title picks up. Will the game release this year, unlikely, the studio was only founded in 2020 and they spent most of that year attempting to get staff to help make the game, so they would have entered into full development last year at the earliest.
Maxis
Series known to them: Sim series
Maxis, at least before EA were known as the makers of SimCity, except for that one Super Nintendo release, but since EA the team started working on a new game series, The Sims and the rest as they say, is history. The Sims 4 released way back in 2014 and while 2021 saw many expansions and content packs, they really didn’t do much for it.
Sadly, 2022 looks to be more of the same, there were reports of a Sims 5 coming, but Andrew Wilson, the CEO of EA has instead changed course and confirmed longterm support for The Sims 4, ensuring that players can enjoy the game for many years to come. With the quiet nature of the studio and relatively surprising release cadence for the content, we don’t know much about the long term plans for them this year, but a few expansions or content packs are likely.
Motive Studios
Series known to them: Star Wars Battlefront 2, Star Wars Squadrons
The studio behind the single player campaign for Battlefront 2, followed that up with Squadrons, a new take on the flying games of Star Wars in 2020 and while a new game may have taken longer to be revealed, it seems that Motive didn’t want to wait, as at EA Play in 2021, Dead Space was revealed.
The last time we saw the game was in a development update video and while the game is due to release this year, the quiet development of it, means that those plans could shift. At this stage it is on track, but only time will tell.
Pogo Studios
Series known to them: Various
Pogo.com is a website that allows players to login and enjoy dozens of games, from Mahjong to Solitaire, puzzlers and hidden object titles. The site has been in operation for years now and shows no signs of slowing down, but as for new releases, they are constantly adding things, so it is hard to say what might release this year
PopCap Games
Series known to them: Plants Vs Zombies series, Peggle series
The most recent title by the guys behind the Bejeweled series released back in 2019 for most platforms and then last year for Switch, with Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville being well received by all. Popcap Games has around 400 folks developing games for them, across a number of studios, one even here in Australia, so there is likely something new coming. As they also develop games for mobile devices, those releases tend to be surprising, so keep an eye on your app store for something new in 2022.
Respawn Entertainment
Series known to them: Titanfall series, Apex Legends
Respawn has been quite the busy studio over the past few years, we got Apex Legends back in 2019 and then later that year we saw Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release, with both games getting great reviews. 2020 saw Apex continue to grow and Respawn revive the Medal of Honor series, which included a lot of interviews with veterans of World War 2 and members of those families, it also gave us Colette, a short film that won an Oscar for best documentary short subject.
2022 is going to be an interesting year for the studio, we know Apex Legends is coming to mobile at some point, the team have been quiet as to when, or details about how it might play, but it is coming. There are reports that we might get the reveal of the next entry in the Fallen Order series this year as well, and of course they could surprise us with more Medal of Honor, so expect to hear a lot from them this year.
Ripple Effect Studio
Series known to them: Battlefield 2042
A new name, but the same talent, Ripple Effect Studios are the team that made Battlefield Portal, the mode that lets fans mix and match various themes of the Battlefield universe, their work in 2021’s Battlefield 2042 means that they are not going to release a new game this year and will instead focus on that new content cycle.
Interestingly though, the team are working on new and original games, but there is no word exactly on what they might be, they do have a pedigree in the shooter market, so maybe that new Medal of Honor could come from them, rather than Respawn.
Spearhead
Series known to them: FIFA Online, Need for Speed: Edge
Spearhead is a studio name that you most likely won’t know, they are responsible for some of the EA games that are online only, like FIFA Online. Since 2018, they have been working on FIFA Online 4 and while the series is going strong, they tend to last for a few years, before they are replaced, FIFA Online 3 released in 2012.
Given they also had a Need for Speed game in Edge, which shut down in 2019, the team at Spearhead are likely working on something else now, it just depends on if we will see it here or not.
Unnamed studio in Seattle
Series known to them: Nothing yet…
The studio was founded by Kevin Stephens, formerly of Monolith Productions and started up in May 2021, there is no word on what their their first game will be.
Unnamed studio in Seattle
Series known to them: Nothing yet…
The studio was founded by Marcus Lehto, formerly of Bungie and started up in October 2021, there is no word on what their their first game will be.
EA Mobile
EA Capital Games
Series known to them: Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
This is the studio that makes the popular Galaxy of Heroes game for mobile, as such they are going to stick with it for as long as they can. Over the years, new content and characters are added, with The Bad Batch hitting the game last year.
EA Redwood Studios
Series known to them: None
This is the head of the EA Mobile operation, so while they oversee the games made, they don’t actively make them there, that is not to say the location isn’t important, this is where the head office of Electronic Arts is located.
Firemonkeys Studios
Series known to them: Real Racing series, Need for Speed series, The Sims series
Firemonkeys is based here in Australia, down in Melbourne and they are the folks that make the mobile versions of Need for Speed and The Sims. Their last release was The Sims Mobile back in 2018 and since then they have been adding content pretty consistently, before that we got Need for Speed: No Limits in 2015.
Given that both games are doing well, it is unlikely we will see anything new from them, but it has been 9 years since Real Racing 3 released, so that could be something.
Glu Mobile
Series known to them: Various
Glu mobile was bought out by EA last year and over the years they have released games based on just about every brand you can think of, Lord of the Rings, Powerpuff Girls, Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and more. They will have new games in 2022, just no idea as to what.
Industrial Toys
Series known to them: Midnight Star series
Industrial Toys is the studio that is making Battlefield Mobile, which soft launched in India last year, given the full release is expected this year, we should start to hear more about that as the year progresses.
Playdemic
Series known to them: Golf Clash
EA bought this studio out in late 2021, as such we don’t know much about what their working out, besides Golf Clash.
Red Crow Studios
Series known to them: The Simpsons Tapped Out
If you are a Simpsons fan, then you likely know this studio, as they are the ones keeping that going. They have also done a few NBA games on mobile as well. They were reportedly working on a new title back in 2018, but there is no way of knowing if that released, the studio is still releasing content for Tapped Out though.
Slingshot Games
Series known to them: Various
Slingshot Games is most known for their support work for the EA Mobile range of games, from development assistance to live product support, as such they don’t have any games in the works.
Tracktwenty Studios
Series known to them: SimCity BuildIt
If you want to play SimCity, this is the only way you can do so lately, BuildIt has been going since 2014 and the team at Tracktwenty Studios are the ones making and supporting it. There are reports that they are also working on something new, but what that is, is unknown at this time.
EA Sports
EA Cologne
Series known to them: Various
This is the headquarters for EA in Europe and while their active development is small, they do hold a host of folks in house for work on things like FIFA. There isn’t any big game expected from them this year, as always.
EA Madrid
Series known to them: Various
Much like Cologne, game development here is more supportive than creative, but that is not to say that don’t contribute in meaningful ways. The studio does creation of sports content, usually in the way of testers, but beyond that, they are most known as the localisation office, converting the sports games you know, into languages you may not.
EA Romania
Series known to them: FIFA series, NHL series
This is just one of the studios that make the FIFA games year on year, Switch players will know them as the place where their version of the game is recycled each year. The studio also supports in the development of the NHL series of games, while also supporting the technology side of the business.
As the games they create are yearly, expect the usual line up from them this year.
EA Tiburon
Series known to them: Madden series, NBA Live series
This is where the Madden games are made and while I said NBA above, the series has been in some weird loop of not being released, but always being made. The studio is also working on the new PGA game that was recently delayed to give them more time.
As Madden is a yearly series, there will be one this year, though with the recent passing of John Madden, there might be a name change or additional work for it, in memory of the American football icon.
EA Vancouver
Series known to them: FIFA series, NHL series
While Romania helps make the same games, Vancouver is where the main work is done, so like always, expect new entries in both of the FIFA and NHL series this year. Interestingly, this is also the studio where the UFC games have been developed and we did get one of those back in early 2020, so it is possible that the team have been working on EA Sports UFC 5, given it seems to release every 2 years.
Metalhead
Series known to them: Super Mega Baseball series
Best known for their Super Mega Baseball series on mobile, the studio was bought by EA last year and while there is no word on what they might be working on, continued support for Super Mega Baseball 3 is a given.
So there you go, all of the EA studios and what they might be working on, or most assuredly are working on. Did we miss anything or do you think we were wrong? Be sure to sound off in the comments below.
