Electronic Arts has officially gone private, marking a seismic shift in the gaming industry. The move reshapes the company's structure, and with it, the full roster of studios under its umbrella is now under fresh scrutiny. Here's everything you need to know about every studio EA now owns, and what this means for the future of game development.

The New Private Reality

EA's transition from a publicly traded giant to a privately held entity is a landmark event. The company, long known for blockbuster franchises like FIFA, Madden, and The Sims, is now free from quarterly earnings pressure, allowing for more aggressive long-term bets on AI, live services, and cloud gaming.

While the financial details of the deal remain sealed, the studio map is now clearer than ever. The company's internal structure has been streamlined, but the core development teams remain largely intact, with some notable additions and consolidations.

Core Development Hubs

  • EA Vancouver — The largest studio, responsible for the FIFA series and NHL.
  • EA Orlando — Known for Madden NFL and other sports titles.
  • DICE — The Swedish powerhouse behind Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront.
  • BioWare — The RPG legend behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect.
  • Respawn Entertainment — Creators of Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series.
  • Criterion Games — The Need for Speed and Burnout specialists.

Sports and Racing Division

EA's sports portfolio is its financial backbone, and the private structure allows for more aggressive expansion into live-service models and esports. The company owns several studios dedicated to annual franchise updates and online experiences.

Key studios in this division include EA Madrid, EA Cologne, and EA Romania, which support the main sports teams with additional content and cross-title features. The racing segment is led by Criterion, with support from EA Gothenburg (formerly Ghost Games), which has been folded back into the main network.

Mobile and Casual Arm

The mobile sector is critical for growth, and EA has quietly expanded its mobile studio footprint. Studios like EA Mobile Barcelona, EA Mobile Bucharest, and Playdemic (acquired in 2021 for Golf Clash) are now fully integrated. These teams focus on free-to-play titles and cross-platform monetization.

Emerging Tech and AI Integration

Going private gives EA the freedom to invest heavily in AI-driven development tools. Several internal teams, often referred to as EA Technology Group and SEED (Search for Extraordinary Experiences Division), are now prioritized. These groups work on procedural generation, machine learning, and real-time rendering.

In a recent internal memo, EA's leadership emphasized that AI will not replace human creativity but will augment it. The company is reportedly building new workflows that allow artists and designers to iterate faster, using AI to generate environmental assets and NPC behaviors.

Worldwide Support Studios

Beyond the flagship names, EA owns a network of support studios that handle QA, localization, and co-development. These include EA Shanghai, EA Montreal, EA Burnaby, and EA Austin. These teams are essential for the scale of EA's annual releases.

In total, EA now owns and operates roughly 20 distinct development studios across North America, Europe, and Asia. The exact count fluctuates as projects ramp up and down, but the core roster is stable.

What This Means for Gamers

The private structure could lead to more experimental titles and longer development cycles. Without Wall Street breathing down its neck, EA can take risks on new IPs and niche genres. However, the company's focus on live services and microtransactions is unlikely to fade—they remain the most profitable models.

Some industry insiders speculate that EA might spin off certain studios or acquire new ones, especially those with strong AI capabilities. The company has already shown interest in blockchain-based gaming, though it remains cautious due to regulatory uncertainty.

"This is a new chapter for EA. We're building for the next decade, not just the next quarter," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

Key Takeaways

  • EA is now private, ending decades of public trading.
  • The studio lineup remains robust, with major teams like DICE, BioWare, and Respawn intact.
  • Mobile and AI divisions are gaining prominence.
  • Support studios across the globe ensure massive production capabilities.
  • Gamers may see more experimental titles, but live-service monetization will continue.

As EA embarks on this private journey, the gaming world will be watching closely. The full list of studios—from Vancouver to Shanghai—represents one of the largest and most diversified development networks in the industry. The next few years will reveal how this new structure translates into the games we love, and perhaps some we never expected.