EA posts $381 million quarterly loss, boasts 'sharp digital growth' from FIFA and Battlefield

Publisher Electronic Arts reported its second quarter earnings today, posting a $381 million net loss on $711 million in revenue for the three month period ending Sept. 30. The company claimed "sharp digital growth," thanks to FIFA 13, Madden NFL 13 and the company's Battlefield games.

$324 million of EA's posted revenue was from digital sales, the company said, compared to $365 million in published packaged goods and other net revenue. EA CEO John Ricciitello says digital revenue at the publisher is up 40 percent year-over-year.

"On the strength of our digital extensions, FIFA and Battlefield are the two biggest revenue events in our company's history," EA president Frank Gibeau said in an earnings release. "Both are well on their way to becoming billion dollar annual franchises."

EA's earning release highlighted digital sales of EA Sports' FIFA games, including $115 million in revenue (non-GAAP) in the first half of the company's fiscal year. FIFA 13 has sold through 7.4 million copies, excluding mobile downloads. The publisher boasted it has sold over 2 million subscriptions to the company's Battlefield 3 Premium service.

Electronic Arts listed iOS game The Simpsons: Tapped Out as another standout in its digital portfolio, recently logging 2.8 million daily active users and four weeks as a top grossing app in 54 countries.

During an investor call today, EA warned of weakness in its current quarter due to sales of Medal of Honor: Warfighter.