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EA Forecasts Strong Fiscal 2026 Bookings, Fueled by New ‘Battlefield’ Launch and Sports Titles

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Electronic Arts (EA) projected fiscal 2026 bookings above Wall Street expectations, driven by strong momentum in its flagship sports titles and the anticipated launch of a new installment in the “Battlefield” franchise. The forecast sent EA shares up over 6% in after-hours trading on Tuesday.

EA said it expects bookings to reach between $7.60 billion and $8 billion, slightly surpassing analyst estimates of $7.62 billion, according to LSEG. The company also beat forecasts for its fiscal Q4, reporting $1.80 billion in bookings, compared to the expected $1.56 billion. The performance was buoyed by strong sales of “Split Fiction”, a multiplayer action-adventure game that became one of March’s bestsellers.

CEO Andrew Wilson expressed confidence in EA’s future, citing a “deep content pipeline,” beginning with the summer reveal of the new Battlefield game. The launch comes at a favorable time, filling the void left by Take-Two Interactive’s delay of “Grand Theft Auto VI” beyond fiscal 2026 — a shift that analysts believe opens a window of opportunity for EA to capture player attention and spending.

“Battlefield gives people something to look forward to and to play until GTA comes out,” noted Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter, highlighting the advantage of not having to compete directly with Rockstar’s highly anticipated title.

In addition to Battlefield, EA continues to benefit from its sports gaming portfolio, with titles like “EA Sports FC” and “Madden NFL” remaining fan favorites. Notably, in-game monetization for “FC” rose by double digits following a January update, signaling a rebound after earlier underperformance.

The company’s upbeat guidance also reflects resilience in gaming demand, even as broader consumer spending faces pressure due to macroeconomic factors and U.S. tariffs.

Ubisoft Launches €4 Billion Franchise Subsidiary with Tencent Backing

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Ubisoft, the French gaming giant known for titles like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, announced on Thursday the formation of a €4 billion subsidiary, backed by a €1.16 billion ($1.25 billion) investment from Chinese tech powerhouse Tencent.

The new entity will consolidate Ubisoft’s most iconic franchises, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, along with the development teams behind them based in Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia. It will also manage all back-catalog titles and future game projects related to those IPs.

Ubisoft said the move aims to “crystallize the value” of its blockbuster brands while enhancing operational flexibility and securing long-term growth. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025.

Strategic Shift and Tencent’s Role
Tencent will become a minority investor in the new subsidiary, deepening its relationship with Ubisoft after previously becoming a significant shareholder in 2022.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot framed the move as part of a broader company transformation:

“We are creating the best conditions for these franchises’ long-term growth and success… This is a foundational step in changing Ubisoft’s operating model to be both agile and ambitious.”

Guillemot emphasized Ubisoft’s goal of evolving its strongest titles into evergreen game platforms that can continuously generate engagement and revenue.

Tencent President Martin Lau echoed the sentiment, praising the franchises’ “immense potential” and expressing confidence in their expansion into next-generation technologies and live service models.

Market Impact
Ubisoft shares had already risen in mid-March following Bloomberg’s report that the company was seeking investors for the new entity. This official announcement confirms Tencent’s participation, highlighting its continued interest in expanding gaming partnerships outside China.

The restructuring also signals Ubisoft’s commitment to a leaner, franchise-focused organization—streamlining operations while enabling major studios to independently grow flagship titles under a new, financially fortified structure.

CD Projekt Posts 2.3% Drop in Full-Year Net Profit Amid Lack of New Game Releases

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Polish video game developer CD Projekt (CDR.WA) reported a 2.3% decline in its full-year net profit on Tuesday, mainly due to the absence of new game releases during the year. The company’s net profit stood at 469.9 million zlotys ($122 million), surpassing analysts’ expectations, which had forecasted a profit of 390 million zlotys, according to a Reuters poll.

While net profit decreased, the company’s revenue dropped nearly 20%, totaling 985 million zlotys for the year. CD Projekt’s performance was supported by the release of the long-anticipated expansion to its flagship game, “Cyberpunk 2077,” which boosted the previous year’s results.

Looking ahead, the company faces a couple of years without a major game release. Its revenue for the upcoming quarters is expected to be largely driven by sales from existing titles. “The results of the CD Projekt Group are primarily driven by sales of ‘Cyberpunk 2077,'” said finance chief Piotr Nielubowicz. “Even in the absence of any major launch, the past year was the third-best in the group’s history in terms of net profit.”

As of November 2024, cumulative sales of “Cyberpunk 2077” had surpassed 30 million copies, while its “Phantom Liberty” expansion had sold more than 8 million units. The company also plans to release “Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition” for macOS in 2024, aiming to tap into a new group of gamers.

In addition, CD Projekt is expanding the “Cyberpunk” universe, with a new animation project currently in development for Netflix, marking another step in the franchise’s growth.