EA Considering In-Game Advertising, But Will Take “Thoughtful” Approach
EA CEO Andrew Wilson has said in-game advertising could become a “meaningful driver of growth” for the company’s bottom line. Speaking during the company’s latest earnings briefing, Wilson said “it’s still early on that front,” and if this is something EA does decide to push further into, the company will be “thoughtful” about it.
In 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign paid EA to put political ads in Burnout Paradise to try to get people to vote for him. Prior to that, 2006’s Battlefield 2142 and Need for Speed Carbon featured in-game ads. In 2007, EA signed a deal with an ad company to bring in-game ads to Madden, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, NHL, and NASCAR games, as well as Skate.
Wilson said during the earnings call that, for any future in-game ad campaigns, EA would try to be “very thoughtful” about how they might be implemented.