Even in the pretend world of combat-based videogames, it sometimes pays to live to fight another day.
Electronic Arts Inc. EA, -9.79% made such a decision on Thursday, announcing plans to delay the release of its forthcoming “Battlefield V” by a month. The purpose of the move is to make “some final adjustments” to the game based on feedback from early player tests, the company said. But the delay also means the latest sequel to EA’s blockbuster shooter franchise is no longer sandwiched between two other popular shooter sequels. “Battlefield V” will now launch on Nov. 20, giving it about a month of breathing room from the launch of Activision Blizzard Inc.’s ATVI, -1.08% “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” and “Red Dead Redemption 2” from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. TTWO, -1.07%
Delaying “Battlefield V” isn’t cost-free for EA. The new release date means about a month less of “Battlefield” sales for the company’s current fiscal year, which ends in March. EA took down its forecast for net bookings — which essentially measures both digital and physical game sales — by 6% to $5.2 billion for the year, though it added in its announcement Thursday that about a third of that drop was due to unfavorable foreign exchange rates.
EA’s share price still fell nearly 10% Thursday, adding to declines logged since the company’s fiscal first-quarter report in July showed disappointing growth for live services, which includes expansion content and in-game sales.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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