Electronic Arts’ Hyderabad studio, driving global gaming innovation from India

Electronic Arts (EA), one of the world’s largest and most influential video game publishers behind global franchises such as FIFA, The Sims, Battlefield, and Apex Legends, is steadily strengthening its footprint in India through its Hyderabad operations.

In an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz, EA Chief People Officer Mala Singh highlighted the Hyderabad office’s emergence as a critical hub for technology and talent, playing a strategic role in supporting the company’s global businesses.

From engineering and platform development to analytics, automation, quality assurance, and live service support for global titles, EA India’s teams are increasingly integral to the company’s mobile and online gaming ecosystem

Many people may know Electronic Arts as a global gaming brand, but how aware are they of EA’s presence in Hyderabad? Can you tell us more about it?

Electronic Arts (EA) is a global leader in video games and interactive entertainment, with a history spanning more than 40 years. While many people know our games, fewer realise the significance of our Hyderabad presence. EA operates in around 20–25 countries with nearly 40 offices worldwide. Hyderabad is among our most important global locations.

EA India has been operating in Hyderabad for nearly two decades. We started our journey here in 2006, following the acquisition of a mobile gaming company called Jamdat. Over the years, we recognised the exceptional talent available in Hyderabad and continued to invest heavily.

How important is the Hyderabad studio to EA globally?

The Hyderabad studio is strategically vital to Electronic Arts. This is not an outsourcing centre, as is common with many multinational companies operating in India. Instead, this is a core studio responsible for full-scale game development, platform engineering, and creative production.

Teams here work on some of EA’s most valuable and complex software platforms that serve hundreds of millions of players worldwide. The Hyderabad studio supports marquee franchises such as EA Sports Football Club and Battlefield, both multi-billion-dollar titles. In fact, Hyderabad is one of EA’s largest sites globally.

How large is EA’s workforce globally and in Hyderabad specifically?

Globally, Electronic Arts employs around 15,000 people. In Hyderabad, we have close to 1,000 full-time employees and, when including partner contract engineers, nearly 2,000 people working at this facility. This makes it one of EA’s largest and most significant development centres worldwide.

Can you share some insight into EA’s investments, particularly in India?

EA is a publicly traded, multi-billion-dollar company generating approximately $8 billion in annual revenue. Our biggest investment is in people. Unlike manufacturing-driven businesses, our success depends entirely on creative and technical talent.

While I don’t have exact figures for investment in Hyderabad, I can confidently say that our investment here has consistently grown and will continue to do so. Hyderabad aligns perfectly with EA’s vision, especially as Telangana positions itself as a hub for creativity. Much of our creative work now happens here, making Hyderabad central to our future strategy.

How is EA different from other IT companies operating in Hyderabad?

What sets EA apart is the nature of our work. While many IT companies focus on services or outsourcing, EA operates at the intersection of creativity, technology, and entertainment. Our teams include not only world-class software engineers but also game designers, visual artists, musicians, storytellers, and animators.

Creating a game requires blending advanced engineering with creative storytelling and artistic expression. That fusion of disciplines is what makes EA unique—and Hyderabad plays a major role in bringing those elements together.

Gaming today is also a social experience. How does EA view this evolution?

Video games have become a powerful social platform, especially for younger generations. Children today connect with friends and family across the world through games—whether on consoles, PCs, or mobile devices. Gaming is no longer a solitary activity; it’s social, collaborative, and interactive.

EA’s games enable players to engage in real-time experiences with others globally. Much of the technology that enables this—live connectivity, online stability, and player interaction—is built and supported right here in Hyderabad.

What technologies does EA use to create such immersive experiences?

EA uses a mix of proprietary and third-party technologies. We have our own game engines developed in-house, capable of creating incredibly realistic and visually stunning worlds. These tools are exclusive to EA and represent decades of innovation.

In addition, we partner with technology providers and leverage advanced creative software, including tools like Adobe. Recently, we’ve also introduced cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools to enhance artistic workflows, allowing artists to work faster and with greater creative freedom.

What role does the Hyderabad team play during major game launches?

The Hyderabad team plays a critical role during global game launches. When a major title like Battlefield is released, millions of players log in simultaneously. Ensuring technical stability during these peak periods is essential.

Teams here conduct extensive stress testing and infrastructure validation to ensure the game can handle massive player volumes without disruption. As games grow larger and audiences expand, this responsibility has become even more crucial—and Hyderabad has proven itself as a dependable pillar of EA’s global operations.

How is artificial intelligence impacting the gaming industry and EA’s work?

Artificial intelligence presents tremendous opportunities for the gaming industry. At EA, we see AI as a powerful enhancement to human creativity—not a replacement. AI enables deeper, more expansive gaming experiences, offering players greater freedom and personalization.

Which EA games are currently the most popular worldwide?

EA Sports Football Club—formerly known as FIFA—is the most popular game in the world. Football has a massive global following, and the game attracts millions of players daily.

Beyond that, EA’s portfolio includes American football titles, The Sims, Battlefield, and Need for Speed, Formula 1, Star Wars games, and mobile hits like Plants vs. Zombies. We cater to a wide range of genres—sports, racing, strategy, simulation, shooting, and casual mobile games.

Our goal is to create games for people aged eight to eighty, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

In India, gaming is still often seen as an activity for children. Do you see that changing?

Yes, absolutely. In many countries, gaming is enjoyed by people of all ages, including those in their 60s and 70s. Games can offer relaxation, social interaction, and even cognitive benefits.

In India, this mindset is gradually changing. As awareness grows about the positive aspects of gaming—creativity, problem-solving, stress relief—we expect broader acceptance among adults and families.

What career opportunities does EA offer, and what skills should students develop to join the company?

EA hires across three major categories. First is STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Software engineers, data scientists, analysts, and technologists form the backbone of our development teams.

Second is the creative workforce, including artists, designers, animators, and musicians. Our Hyderabad studio even has dedicated art spaces where artists work on both physical and digital creations.

Third is business and corporate functions such as finance, HR, marketing, analytics, and operations. What makes EA unique is how these diverse disciplines collaborate under one creative culture.

We recruit from top universities, IITs, and creative institutions, looking for people who are not only skilled but also passionate about games.

Does EA take up creative projects from external industries like films or animation studios?

EA primarily focuses on developing its own intellectual property. We have more games in our portfolio than we can build at any given time, so we don’t function as an outsourcing studio for other industries.

However, we do engage in strategic partnerships. In the past, EA has collaborated with Hollywood to adapt game stories into films or television series. These partnerships allow creative storytelling to move across media, but our core focus remains on gaming and interactive entertainment.

Finally, what makes EA Hyderabad special within the company?

EA Hyderabad is not just another office—it is a strategic centre critical to EA’s future. The work done here directly shapes the company’s global products, platforms, and innovations.

As Hyderabad evolves into a creative capital for India, EA is proud to be part of that journey. With its blend of technical excellence, creative talent, and inclusive culture, the Hyderabad studio is helping define the future of interactive entertainment worldwide.