Pixel P&L: EA’s Record Q2 Exceeds All Expectations

Good morning. It’s Thursday, October 31. Happy Diwali to everyone who celebrates. As we celebrate the festival of lights, may it be a reminder of resilience and renewal, casting out darkness and igniting new paths forward in both life and work.

In today’s Pixel P&L, we delve into Electronic Arts’ latest earnings report, marking a record-breaking quarter driven by the strength of its EA Sports franchise. We also cover The Pokémon Company’s launch of an India league for Pokémon UNITE and NODWIN Gaming’s recent collaboration with Konami. Additionally, our feature explores practical funding avenues for Indian indie game developers, guiding studios on how to secure financing for their next project.

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Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) reported a standout second-quarter fiscal performance, driven by booming demand in its EA Sports portfolio, resulting in net bookings reaching $2.08 billion, a 14% increase year-over-year, outstripping the company's guidance and setting a new quarterly record. Net revenue came in at $2.025 billion, with net income at $294 million.

The stellar quarter was buoyed by the recent launch of College Football 25, which exceeded expectations and expanded EA’s American football ecosystem, and EA SPORTS FC™, which experienced a remarkable 130% surge in global player reach. EA noted that the expanded player base has translated to higher engagement and increased monetization, underscoring the success of its sports franchise model. Meanwhile, The Sims franchise also contributed to EA’s diversified revenue stream, achieving a 6% increase in weekly active users as fresh content drew both loyal fans and new players. In response to this performance, EA raised its full-year guidance for fiscal 2025, indicating confidence in sustaining this momentum. 

However, the company’s non-sports live services division faced mixed results. Apex Legends underperformed in net bookings due to lower player engagement and changes in its Battle Pass structure, raising questions about the title’s long-term growth. Operating expenses also rose by 10%, attributed to restructuring and personnel costs, which have pressured profit margins.

EA also continues to invest in emerging initiatives like the EA Sports app, although the rollout and partner dynamics will be critical for success. 

For indie game developers, securing funding can be a daunting challenge. The traditional venture capital model doesn’t always align with the unique demands of the gaming industry, leaving many startups wondering how to bring their vision to life. In today’s feature, Harish Chengaiah, Founder and Game Director of Outlier Games, breaks down alternative funding pathways specifically suited for indie studios.

Chengaiah outlines the key steps game studios can take to secure funding—from connecting with game publishers to navigating the support offered by incubator programs like PlayStation’s India Hero Project and Krafton’s India Game Incubator. This feature dives into what indie developers need to know about presenting a strong investment case, from creating a polished vertical slice to building a pitch deck that stands out.

Pokémon Company Launches India League for Pokémon UNITE, Eight Top Teams to Compete

The Pokémon Company unveiled the India League for Pokémon UNITE as part of the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League (PUACL) 2025, inviting eight prominent Indian esports teams to participate. Teams including GodLike Esports, S8UL Esports, and Global Esports will compete across eight matchdays from Nov. 16, 2024, to Jan. 26, 2025. With a $40,000 prize pool, the competition features Group Stages and Playoffs, and the champion team will represent India at the PUACL 2025 Finals in Japan. Skyesports, the longstanding Pokémon UNITE partner in India, will oversee the event's organization.

Krafton’s Diwali Contest Offers BGMI Players Chance to Meet Their Squad

Krafton is giving BGMI players the chance to meet their gaming squad in real life through a contest launched for Diwali. Running from October 29 to November 4, the contest invites players to watch Diwali With Doom Troopers, a short film on Instagram or YouTube, and leave a comment on the video. The four comments with the most likes will earn an all-expenses-paid trip for winners and their squad to meet anywhere in India. Winners will be announced within 72 hours after the contest ends. Krafton has also introduced festive in-game daily challenges, offering 100 RP as part of its Diwali celebration.

Konami Partners With NODWIN Gaming for eFootball Tournament

NODWIN Gaming and Konami Digital Entertainment Co. partnered to host the ‘eFootball Diwali Showdown,’ an influencer tournament spotlighting India’s mobile gaming market. The event culminated in S8UL Aman claiming victory against seven top gaming personalities. To further engage Indian gamers, Konami introduced special Diwali-themed rewards in eFootball, including exclusive jerseys and player packs featuring Indian football stars. With influencers streaming matches for fans, the partnership highlights Konami’s commitment to India’s gaming scene. 

The original Doom, released in 1993, not only revolutionized first-person shooters but also offered an ahead-of-its-time feature: triple monitor support. Yes, nearly three decades before multi-monitor setups became common, Doom allowed players to expand their field of view across three screens. This was achieved using a clever workaround: instead of actual widescreen support, Doom created a local multiplayer session, using two “fake” players as cameras to capture the left and right edges of the screen.

To set it up, each monitor needed its own system running a separate Doom instance, networked together via the era’s basic local area network (LAN) capabilities. Each "camera player" would connect to the host and view the action from an angle on either side, effectively creating a panoramic view. The host’s screen showed the main center view, while the other two computers displayed the left and right perspectives.

While it required technical know-how and multiple systems to set up, this creative multi-monitor feature underscored Doom's spirit of experimentation and openness, qualities that inspired generations of modders and developers.