What are Electronic Arts working on - A look at their studios
2022 was an interesting year for Electronic Arts, they brought back Need for Speed after a few years away, revealed a few games for 2023, but also delayed a big one until this year.
2023 will see Dead Space, a new version of their Soccer game, the return of their Golf game and more, plus there will also be the regular sports releases. What else will they have in-store for gamers this year? Lets see what we can determine from our magic 8-ball.
Bioware
Bioware Edmonton
Series known to them: Mass Effect series, Dragon Age series
The main Bioware office has been very quiet since they shipped the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, but we know they have been hard at work on both the next entry in the Mass Effect series, as well as the next Dragon Age. In December of 2022, Dragon Age: Absolution was released on Netflix, as an animated series, it was able to focus in on a story, sadly it doesn’t appear to have done that well, but its still possible we might get more.
2023 could be a massive year for the studio, as its possible that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf could release at the end of the year. Back in October last year, the game was revealed to have hit its Alpha state, meaning that it was playable from start to finish. While the time between the Alpha state and the Beta state can be as long as a piece of string, it is showing that progress is being made. If development stays smooth, its possible we might see it release at the end of the year, but we likely won’t find out more on it until June and that is only if EA are hosting an EA Play this year. As for Mass Effect 5, that is still a long way from being ready, there was a new piece of art shown off during the N7 Day celebrations, but that was it, as such don’t expect to hear much on this game for a while.
Bioware Austin
Series known to them: The Old Republic MMO
2022 was an interesting year for Bioware Austin, the studio released the latest expansion for Star Wars The Old Republic, which gave players new quests and story to enjoy. However, it also released in a less than wonderful state, which caused a lot of players trouble and while the developers have since fixed that, it proved to be an issue that should not have happened.
2023 will be a big year for the game as it is moving from being a 32bit game to a 64bit game. The tools that make the game were also limited by that 32bit nature and with the move, the tools can be improved, but the impact for players is a better performance that will take full advantage of modern devices. In addition with access to more processing power, the worlds can be detailed like never before, in fact if you want, you can try it out now on the public test server. Beyond the usual seasonal updates and events, this is year is going to be focused on that move and as they tend to do a major expansion every 2 years, don’t expect much this year.
Codemasters
Southam
Series known to them: GRID series
2022 was a good year for the Southam division of Codemasters as GRID Legends was released and as the year progressed, they delivered content pretty consistently. With the studio taking three years between GRID titles, it is unlikely that the studio is going to have another game to release this year, but a major content drop for Legends would not surprise me.
Birmingham
Series known to them: F1 series
F1 23 is coming, its been an annual series since F1 2009 and that is unlikely to change. The last game released on all platforms, adding in new modes like Formula One Sprints and adaptive AI to give players a constant challenge.
The only change that I could see happening this year, would be that the last generation of consoles are dropped, letting the developers take full advantage of the new hardware, but that would be a long shot at best. As it stands expect to see F1 23 release in early July.
Cheshire
Series known to them: Dirt 5
Sadly this studio is no more, well not exactly, but also they kinda are dead. The studio was founded many years ago as Evolution Studios, one of the games they made was Driveclub. When they became a Codemasters studio, they worked on Dirt 5, which did very well for the studio, but in May of 2022 the team were merged into Criterion Games. Before the merge they were already working on the next Need for Speed, which is called Unbound and released last year, this move just brought the teams closer together. So while the team is still there and making games, they are no longer under the Codemasters umbrella.
Kuala Lumpur
Series known to them: Nothing
As a support studio, they help out the development of all the games Codemasters makes, from backgrounds to textures, there is nothing they can’t help with.
As a support studio though, they are often ignored when a new game is released, but also as a support studio they are also not going to make their own game. With all the games Codemasters release this year and beyond, the work from this studio will be involved, you might not know it 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
2022 was not a great year for Slightly Mad Studios and it started when Fast & Furious Crossroads was removed from digital stores in April. Ok, that one might not have been a bad thing, as the game was pretty bad, but it was in October that word was released by Electronic Arts that they were killing off Project CARS 4 and moving staff onto other projects, just not Project CARS. Both Project CARS and Project CARS 2 were delisted in August, with the reason being that expiring track licences were the cause, odd that both got hit at once, but who knows what the deal was. Things took a turn when the sequel was removed first and the original 2 weeks later.
For now Project CARS 3 is still alive - at least for now, but the same can’t be said for Project CARS 4 and the series as a whole, as EA killed both last year. This wasn’t them restarting development, but rather killing off the series, which means the days are likely numbered for Project CARS 3. All of this follows on from the ending of the mobile game in late 2021, so the series has not had a great run, of course with their being no future for it, the studio has been assigned to helping out on other games, what they are we are not yet aware.
EA Games
Criterion Games
Series known to them: Burnout series, Need for Speed series
Ok, so 2022 was an odd one for Criterion Games, in May the studio was merged with the Cheshire studio of Codemasters, becoming one team in two locations. Both groups were already working on the next Need for Speed, which released in December, the reason why it was weird though, there was no build up. The game was officially announced in October and released just under 2 months later and while the team released info, EA really didn’t.
No Need for Speed game has ever been given an expansion or major content update, but it is possible that Unbound might be the first. A few weeks after the game released, the official Twitter shared some review quotes and ended with the line “We’re just getting started!” Now it is possible that it refers to more content to come, or it could mean a sequel or the next entry in general, there is no way of knowing yet. As for what else they could be doing this year, it is hard to know as the studio has been pulled in to help DICE and Motive in years past, and something like that could happen again, only time will tell on this one.
DICE
Series known to them: Battlefield series, Mirror’s Edge series
For most of 2022, DICE spent the year releasing fixes for Battlefield 2042, in order to address the countless issues that the players had raised at launch. One of the most detailed parts were the map redesigns, which is still happening, but of course they started with the seasons of content.
2023 will continue the seasons being released, at the time of writing this we are part way through the 3rd season, so three more are likely this year. In addition more maps being overhauled is also quite likely. As the studio is focused on the game, they won’t have anything else to release this year.
EA Baton Rouge
Series known to them: None
The Baton Rouge location is a QA studio, that means the games you see on this list, pass through here in order to ensure that they work. Even though Electronic Arts classes them as a studio, they do not make games and that is something that won’t change this year.
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
The former home of Need for Speed, before it went back to Criterion, EA Gothenburg has been turned from a game development studio, into a tech development studio. What this means is that they work on the Frostbite engine and provide support to the studios that use it. With this change it is unlikely that we will see a game from them any time soon.
EA Korea
Series known to them: FIFA Online, Need for Speed: Edge
Known for a long time as EA Spearhead, the group was renamed to EA Korea, to better reflect where it was based. Unless you are someone who spends a lot of time in Korea, Vietnam or China, there is a fair chance you won’t know the games they work on. Right now their main game is FIFA Online 4, but that should change this year.
With EA no longer having the FIFA licence, more on that later, the developers have confirmed that it won’t impact this game.
“We don’t expect any change to the actual game, Nexon’s agreement is with EA so all the players, stadiums and features will still be in the game.”
As the game is for PC and Mobile devices, they tend to release updates pretty consistently, which should be their goal for the year, minus the brand name change. Of course, given that EA is launching an all-new version of their Soccer game called EA Sports FC, its possible they might choose to bring a new version of the game out, but that is unknown.
Full Circle
Series known to them: Skate 4
2022 was a big year for Full Circle, the first major bit of news was that their upcoming Skate game, was given its full title ‘skate.’ and yes that is with a period at the end. In addition the studio hosted two of their Board Room streams, which gives players a chance to hear what is going on behind the scenes of the development. The most recent one took place in November, and talked about a host of updates since the first. The other news from the year was that game would be free-to-play when it does release.
2023 is the year that the game is schedule to release, the only catch is that its PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only. The studio has not named any firmer release date than just the year, but given the update from November, its likely to be a second half of the year title. As such, expect to see more Board Room updates as the year goes on.
Maxis
Series known to them: Sim series
2022 was a packed year for The Sims 4, not only did the game get an expansion called High-School Years, which as you might have guessed focused on the teen Sims. There were also two additional content packs, My Wedding Stories and Werewolves, that brought new items and more to the game. Last year also saw a massive change to the Sims 4, because the game is now free to play, at least the base game is, the expansions and content packs still require money to get.
The future of the Sims is looking interesting, as the developers are working on Project Rene, which some people are calling The Sims 5. We know that Project Rene is the next Sims title and the studio is aiming to “reimagine The Sims you know and love with new ways to play.” What this means for the support of The Sims 4 or any other plans for this year is unknown. As Maxis have an entirely remote workforce that makes content for The Sims 4, there should still be a few releases of content packs for the game this year, if not an expansion, but only time will tell.
Motive Studios
Series known to them: Star Wars Battlefront 2, Star Wars Squadrons
Dead Space, the remake, is out in a few short weeks and as such the studio will be focusing on that. Once its out the door, development is going to pivot full time to the Iron Man game the studio is working on. One of the creative leads on the project also worked on the Guardians of the Galaxy game from Square Enix a few years back, which was one very good game, but as development was only announced last year, there is no telling how far along it is.
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. Last month the group released RISK: Pogo Domination, the only official online version of the iconic board game. As always though, there was no word on what they were doing it just launched.
Given they are usually quite on new games, the general updates to existing games and such will still come, but that is about all we can expect. If you love RISK and want to play the new game, you can do that here.
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 are a mobile focused developer first, there is no telling what the studio is working on, Plants vs Zombies 3 soft launched back in 2021 on mobile devices in some regions, including Australia. The game entered limited testing again in October of last year and a release date at the time was stated to be quite a ways off.
Respawn Entertainment
Series known to them: Titanfall series, Apex Legends
2022 was the year that we got the reveal of the Jedi: Fallen Order sequel and saw Apex Legends drop a lot of new content, the later of which is becoming pretty routine at this point. There was also a big wave of news earlier in the year when it was announced that Respawn would be seeing development of two additional Star Wars games, in addition to Jedi: Survivor.
2023 is going to be a big year for Respawn, as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will release in March, barring any delays and will give players a chance to take control of Cal Kestis once more. Apex Legends will also have a big year, with the first event coming later this month, but as the year progresses, expect more seasons - which should include new Legends and more. As for those other two Star Wars games that were announced last year, one of them is a FPS and is being directed by Peter Hirschmann, who directed the recent Medal of Honor VR game, but also helped create the original game back in 1999. The third game is a strategy game that is being made at Bit Reactor, with Respawn assisting. As both games were only announced last year, the odds of a release this year are slim, but it would not surprise me if we learn more about them both, only after Jedi: Survivor is released.
Ripple Effect Studio
Series known to them: Battlefield 2042
In 2022, Ripple Effect mostly worked on content for Battlefield 2042’s Portal mode, well at least publicaly, behind the scenes there was likely more going on. Just before the Battlefield 2042 released, the studio got a name change from DICE LA to Ripple Effect, but since that name change the studio is known to be working on a new entry in the Battlefield series, whatever that is.
2023 could be a big year for the studio, depending entirely on how many staff have been moved over to the new Battlefield game. Portal is still a massive mode in 2042 and people love it, but as the base of the mode is set, everything now is just extra content. Last year we learnt that the studio has fully embraced a remote working model, meaning that they can have staff working from just about anywhere, which could bring more staff into the mix. The problem is that as the studio is turning around from a support studio to a full development house, they are being quite shy about what is happening.
Ridgeline Games
Series known to them: Nothing yet…
The studio was spun up in 2021, but that were extremely early days, in 2022 we started to get more details about what they were up to. The first thing is that they are also working in Battlefield, which makes them the third studio to do so. The big change however is that they are focusing on a ‘narrative campaign’ for the series, meaning that everything will be about the story. In fact all we know for now is this single line that EA released when explaining the game.
“The campaign will engage fans in new and exciting ways while remaining true to the classic elements of the series.”
Given that the studio is just over a year old, I would not expect anything from them this year, outside of a teaser. However with the co-creator of Halo leading the studio, there is good reason to have hopes that this could be something truly special.
Unnamed studio in Seattle
Series known to them: Nothing yet…
Much like Ridgeline Games, this studio was also founded in 2021, but since then we have learnt nothing officially about what the studio is working on. I say officially as there are a bunch of rumours flying around that the studio is working a Black Panther game. These started just just before EA and Marvel Games announced a new partnership to develop new games around the Marvel characters.
We know that Motive are working on an Iron Man game, scroll up if you forgot about that, but there is no official confirmation on any of the other studios working on Marvel games. If the Black Panther game is true, we should get confirmation on it this year, but the studio also has yet to be given its proper name, so until that happens, I wouldn’t expect to hear anything about any game they are working on.
EA Mobile
EA Capital Games
Series known to them: Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
2022 was a big year for Galaxy of Heroes, not only did the game turn 7 years old, but it also saw an expansion of its online store. That latter one may not sound like a big deal, but now allows for players of the game to purchase items, without the need to go into the game, sort of like redeeming Fortnite’s V-Bucks without needing to go into Fortnite.
The game is always getting new content, with Mandalorian being some of the more recent. As a mobile game, the time between reveal and release is short, so if they have something big planned for the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi, we might not know until its about to launch. Though given May 4th is really being pushed by all Star Wars content, expect to see more of it then.
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
Melbourne based Firemonkey’s have been busy for a number of years, sadly though it has not been making new games. The studio oversees three games, Need for Speed: No Limits, Real Racing 3 and for something different The Sims Mobile. All three games spent 2022 getting content updates.
Sadly that is not expected to change much in 2023, however Need for Speed: No Limits is now approaching its 8th year and its possible they might replace it with a new game connected to Need for Speed: Unbound. The reason that may not happen is that Timi Studios, who are working on a new Monster Hunter game for Capcom for mobile devices and Pokemon Unite, are working on a more console like experience, open world and all that. All of the games they are supporting are 5 years or older and new additions would be welcome, but as a mobile studio, they will be silent until they are ready to release.
Glu Mobile
Series known to them: Various
Now owned by EA, Glu Mobile has delivered hundreds of mobile games, as well as some on platforms like Nintendo DS. Their current line up consists of a MLB title, a Disney game, a deer hunting experience and more. Last year though the studio made a move that was utterly disgusting and they started to incorporate actual betting, with real money into one of their games. The company CEO said this last year about it:
“We look forward to offering an entirely new multiplayer experience to our audience in the U.S.; an experience that we anticipate will improve user engagement, retention, and monetization.”
Currently that is only available in the USA, but it could expand and while there are some countries that don’t allow loot boxes to exist, betting is not part of that market. In any event if 2023 is the year they expand this program, expect to hear more about the group, for good or bad.
Industrial Toys
Series known to them: Midnight Star series
Last year we started to get the first look at Battlefield Mobile, which like Call of Duty Mobile, aims to replicate the full experience of its big brother, just on mobile devices. The game has soft launched in a few countries on Android devices, but a full release date is not known.
As the game went through some big changes between its first release and the one in the later months of last year, and they are delivering updates pretty consistently. As the game is working towards its full release, expect to hear more about this game as they start getting closer to the date, whatever it happens to be.
Playdemic
Series known to them: Golf Clash
Much like last years update, the studio has Golf Clash out and has since 2018, but since their buyout by EA, they have gone radio silent on what is happening next. Golf Clash is still being supported, the game just celebrated 7 years the other day, but beyond keeping that game going, we have no idea if they are doing anything else.
Red Crow Studios
Series known to them: The Simpsons Tapped Out
The game The Simpsons: Tapped Out is not yet tapped out on content, as its still going with updates coming throughout 2022. As such, don’t expect this to change in 2023.
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
Like last year, Tracktwenty Studios was just focused on more updates for SimCity BuildIt and that is unlikely to change. The game has been out for a number of years now and with it being very popular, don’t expect them to drop it. Interestingly, while there game did get a bunch of updates last year, the last reported major addition was back in 2021, so it is possible they have something else in the works.
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
If you have played FIFA 23, then you would have experienced content made by the Romania team, while the lead is done out of Vancouver, they do a lot on the game there. With the series pivoting to a new name, this studio will still be supporting the new soccer game. Switch players of the FIFA series will know that this studio is the one that recycles the game every year, after they did some amazing work in 2018, the series just got new skins from that point forward. However with the FIFA series now dead from EA, don’t expect to see EA Sports FC come to Switch.
Because most of their work is yearly, don’t expect much of anything new from them this year.
EA Tiburon
Series known to them: Madden series, NBA Live series
2022 saw the release of Madden 23, which was a decent updated game - as always, but it was also a nice memorium of John Madden who passed away the year before. The studio was also hard at work on their relaunch of the PGA series they have had for years.
2023 will see the release of Madden 24 and the new PGA Tour game. Expect Madden to launch in August, but as for the golf game, until it is formally revealed as for now all we know is that it exists, its hard to gauge when it might drop.
EA Vancouver
Series known to them: FIFA series, NHL series
The home of the FIFA series for EA Sports for many years, they spent 2022 promoting massive additions and changes to FIFA 23, all of which should carry across to EA Sports FC when that launches later this year. In addition the studio also shipped NHL 23, their latest ice hockey game.
Much like all the other EA Sports studios, the games they make are done on a cycle, so expect to see them again this year, of course FIFA 24 won’t be a thing this year.
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.
