Electronic Arts controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
2019
EA discloses FIFA Global Series registration data leak
Issue disclosure
Electronic Arts said that players registering for the EA Sports FIFA 20 Global Series could see information belonging to other players. EA stated that approximately 1,600 players were potentially affected, and said it shut down the registration site, implemented a fix, and was taking steps to contact affected competitors and protect their accounts.
Company response
Apology — Electronic Arts
we deeply apologize that our players encountered this issue.
Remediation — Electronic Arts
We immediately took action to shut down the site by 1:30 pm UK time. We were able to root cause the issue and implement a fix to be clear that information is protected.
Remediation — Electronic Arts
we’re taking steps to contact those competitors with more details and to protect their EA accounts.
Source excerpt
some players trying to register were seeing the information of other players who had already signed up through the registration page.
We’ve determined that approximately 1,600 players were potentially affected by this issue, and we’re taking steps to contact those competitors with more details and to protect their EA accounts.
At approximately 1 pm UK time [October 3rd], we announced the registration portal page for the EA Sports FIFA 20 Global Series.
Microtransactions and loot-box criticism
EA has faced sustained consumer and regulatory criticism over paid randomized items, microtransactions, and monetization in sports and online games.
Studio acquisitions, closures, and layoffs
The company has been criticized for acquiring smaller developers and later reducing, reorganizing, or closing some teams, with associated job losses and cancelled projects.
Competition claims involving sports licensing
EA has faced lawsuits and public allegations that exclusive sports licensing arrangements restricted competition in sports video games.