EA Misses Revenue Goals: How Player Spending Habits Are Reshaping FC25

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EA has released its Q3 fiscal year 2025 earnings, and the results reveal some startling insights into the company’s financial performance and decision-making. These earnings not only highlight underperformance in major titles like EA Sports FC25 and Dragon Age, but also shed light on why the developer has seemingly been more responsive to community feedback lately. Let’s break down what this means for players and why it could signal a shift in how EA approaches its games.

EA’s Decline in Revenue for Q3 FY25

In the press release, EA confirmed a mid-single-digit decline in live services net bookings for the fiscal year compared to their initial projections of growth. Global football titles, primarily EA Sports FC25, played a major role in this revenue drop. Despite experiencing consecutive fiscal years of double-digit growth in net bookings, FC25 failed to sustain its early momentum during October, November, and December 2024, which made up Q3 of EA’s fiscal year.

This decline doesn’t appear to be due to a significant drop in player count—EA remained silent on that front for FC25. However, they did disclose that Dragon Age player counts were 50% below expectations. For FC25, it seems more likely that players have been spending less on microtransactions, like FC Points, which is a major revenue driver for the game.

Why EA Is Prioritizing Gameplay Improvements

Andrew Wilson, EA’s CEO, addressed shareholders by acknowledging the company’s financial underperformance in Q3. In a surprising move, Wilson emphasized that a recent gameplay refresh and the Team of the Year update for FC25 received positive player feedback. EA even linked these changes to improved early results, indicating that the company now sees a direct connection between gameplay quality and revenue generation.

This is a significant shift. For years, the community has criticized FIFA (and now FC) for subpar gameplay, feeling that EA prioritized monetization through Ultimate Team packs over delivering a polished experience. Many believed that EA didn’t think gameplay quality impacted their bottom line—but this press release suggests otherwise.

If EA has genuinely believed all along that gameplay is essential to revenue, then the poor state of gameplay over the years points to either poor hiring practices or a lack of investment in the development team. Alternatively, EA may only now be realizing the impact of gameplay on player engagement and spending. Either way, this admission is eye-opening and underscores the importance of player feedback.

Why Spending Less on Microtransactions Is Working

One of the most interesting takeaways from EA’s Q3 report is the potential success of a growing movement within the community to stop spending money on microtransactions, particularly FC Points. While the player count for FC25 may not have seen a major drop compared to last year, revenue from microtransactions clearly didn’t meet EA’s expectations.

Steam data backs this up to some extent. Player numbers in November and December 2024 were higher than the same months in 2023, yet revenue was down. This suggests that more players are playing FC25 without engaging heavily with its microtransaction-heavy Ultimate Team mode. This is a promising sign for those advocating for a shift away from excessive spending on the game.

EA’s Response and What It Means for FC25

The financial shortfall has put EA in a position where they need to regain player trust and improve their offerings. As a result, we’re already seeing changes in FC25. The gameplay refresh and updates like Team of the Year are steps toward addressing long-standing community concerns.

What’s more, this situation could encourage EA to make even more player-friendly changes in the near future. With fiscal year 2025 ending on March 31, EA is likely focusing on stabilizing its revenue for Q4, which could mean listening even more closely to player feedback.

For the first time in years, EA appears to be acknowledging the power of its player base. By spending less on microtransactions, the community has sent a clear message: gameplay quality and meaningful updates are non-negotiable if EA wants to retain its audience.

What Players Can Do to Maintain This Momentum

If there’s one lesson to take away from EA’s Q3 earnings, it’s that player spending habits have a direct impact on the company’s priorities. This earnings report shows that the decision to spend less on FC Points and other microtransactions has forced EA to rethink its approach.

Team of the Year and other events may tempt players to spend, but resisting the urge could lead to even more significant changes in the future. EA has already shown that they’re willing to pivot when revenue dips, so continued pressure from the community is key.

For more details on EA’s Q3 earnings and updates, check out the official press release here.

By holding EA accountable and prioritizing gameplay over monetization, players have an opportunity to shape the future of EA Sports FC and ensure the game truly reflects their expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused EA’s revenue to decline in Q3 FY25?

EA experienced a mid-single-digit decline in live services net bookings for Q3 FY25, primarily due to underperformance in their global football franchise (*EA Sports FC25*) and *Dragon Age*. The decline was attributed to lower spending on microtransactions during the quarter.

Did the player count for FC25 decrease?

EA did not provide specific player count details for *FC25*. However, available data from Steam charts indicates player counts were slightly higher than last year during the same period, suggesting the decline in revenue was due to reduced spending rather than a drop in players.

What changes has EA made to improve FC25?

EA introduced a gameplay refresh and updates, such as Team of the Year, which have received positive feedback. These changes were implemented in response to revenue shortfalls and player demand for better gameplay.

How are players influencing EA’s decisions?

Players are influencing EA by reducing spending on microtransactions, like FC Points, while still playing the game. This has forced EA to prioritize gameplay improvements and community-driven changes to retain its audience.

What does EA’s fiscal year calendar look like?

EA’s fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. Quarter 3 (Q3) spans October, November, and December, making it a key period for *EA Sports FC25* due to the game’s release timeline.

Will EA continue making player-friendly updates?

If players continue to avoid excessive spending on microtransactions, EA is likely to prioritize more updates and improvements in gameplay to regain trust and revenue.

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