Riccitiello: Casual saving ‘dismal’ PC market

Riccitiello said that data suggesting that the boxed PC market is slowing didn’t take into account the success of microtransaction and subscription models.

However, he added that without World Of Warcraft and The Sims, the boxed PC market would be “pretty dismal”.

Speaking to investors after the company posted record revenues – but a $454 million loss – for the fiscal year, Riccitiello said:

“I will tell you that I certainly recognise the box side of PC as soft and has been soft for some time. Frankly were it not for The Sims and the World of Warcraft PC box sales, it would be a pretty dismal sector.

“I would point out, however, that the fastest growing part of this industry is in subscription and microtransaction and in casual games, many of which are pretty much centered on the PC.

“So one of the things that we try to look at at EA is the total business that’s represented on PC game software and we are seeing a growth business there. And in fact, it’s been growing for several years. It’s just been categorized I think wrongly by looking simply at the box side of the equation.”