Electronic Arts (EA) is a major American video‑game publisher founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins, a former Apple employee who envisioned game creators as “software artists,” giving the company its early identity as a champion of creative talent. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA quickly became a pioneer of the home‑computer gaming era, publishing titles developed by independent creators before shifting toward internal studios in the late 1980s and early 1990sWikipedia.

Over the decades, EA expanded into one of the world’s most influential interactive‑entertainment companies, known for blockbuster franchises such as Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, Need for Speed, Plants vs. Zombies, and its globally dominant EA Sports lineup including FC (FIFA), Madden NFL, NHL, and F1. The company operates major studios like BioWare, DICE, Respawn Entertainment, and Criterion, and delivers games across consoles, PC, and mobile through its own digital platform, the EA AppWikipedia.

Today, EA positions itself as a global leader in digital interactive entertainment, focusing on online communities, live services, and immersive storytelling experiences. With around 14,500 employees and a portfolio of high‑impact brands, EA continues to shape gaming culture worldwide. In 2025, the company announced plans for a historic leveraged buyout led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners — a deal valued at $55 billion and expected to close in 2026 pending regulatory approvalWikipedia.