UK Developer Studio 33 Joins EA Worldwide Studios Liverpool-Based Game Maker Joins Existing Studio, EA Northwest CHERTSEY SURREY, UK - Oct 16, 2003 - Electronic Arts (NasdaqNM:ERTS - News) today announced the acquisition of Studio 33, a globally recognized developer of games in the racing genre. The team of roughly 30 Liverpool-based employees will join the existing team at EA Northwest in nearby Warrington. Both teams -- a total of 75 employees -- are scheduled to move to a new facility in Warrington shortly. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Studio 33 is known primarily for games created for the console including Formula One, Newman-Haas Racing, and Destruction Derby Arenas. Those games, developed for other publishers, are not part of the transaction. EA, the world's foremost developer and publisher of interactive entertainment, has 4,000 employees, including roughly 2,300 creative people in its worldwide studio organization. EA makes games for all major platforms and last year published 22 titles that sold more than one million units worldwide. "I couldn't be happier with the caliber of talent that will join EA in this agreement," said EA Executive Vice President Bruce McMillan. "The new team is already working on several projects that will be announced in the future. I predict that very shortly, EA Northwest will be a globally recognized powerhouse of interactive entertainment." The primary focus of development at EA Northwest will be driving games. EAUK General Manager David Byrne will oversee the new studio. Development will be led by Studio Manager Chris Gibbs and John White will serve as head of the Technology Group. "Northwestern England is a creative center that will continue to grow and gain recognition," continued McMillan. "There are more than 2000 active developers in the region and a cluster of globally recognized universities and art colleges supplying an on-going talent pipeline. This is a great place to make videogames."