ELECTRONIC Arts (EA), the creator of video games like EA Sports Fifa, reported record revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter, beating analysts’ estimates thanks to higher player engagement with franchises like its popular soccer title.

Quarterly bookings, or adjusted revenue, rose 11 per cent to US$1.95 billion, the Redwood City, California-based based publisher said on Tuesday (May 9) in a statement. Analysts were expecting US$1.73 billion on average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Adjusted earnings rose to US$1.77 a share for the quarter ended Mar 31, the company said, beating estimates of US$1.31.

Fifa 23, released in September, achieved the most successful launch in the franchise’s history, the company said. Quarterly net bookings for the franchise grew 31 per cent year-over-year. EA is retiring its Fifa brand and launching its new soccer game, EA Sports FC, later this year.

“We’re excited to continue our momentum, including the highly anticipated launch of EA Sports FC later this year,” chief executive officer Andrew Wilson said in the statement. Revenue from live-services games, including Fifa, Apex Legends and The Sims, increased nearly 10 per cent to US$5.49 billion in the latest fiscal year.

Shares of EA rose as much as 3.5 per cent to US$129.80 in extended trading after the results were announced. They closed little changed on Tuesday in New York and are up 2.6 per cent this year.

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In April, EA launched Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to effusive reviews.

Bookings for the current fiscal first quarter are forecast at US$1.5 billion to US$1.6 billion, EA said. For the year, it sees US$7.3 billion to US$7.7 billion. BLOOMBERG