Electronic Arts today said it will expand its EA Sports operations to Texas, and bring in more than 150 new jobs in a move the state government is expected to back with financial incentives.
The news came in a joint announcement that included comments from Daryl Holt, the chief operating officer of EA Sports. Though EA Sports has yet to reveal its specific plans for the Texas operation, in an internal memo leaked to IGN, Holt indicated its new Austin studio would be involved in the label’s new focus on adding persistent online game experiences to its titles.
EA already has about 450 employees in the Austin area, which includes a branch of BioWare. Of the new jobs, Frank Gibeau, the president of EA Games, told the Austin American-Statesman that half would be full-time positions, the other half contracted, and they will include the full range of development job descriptions: designers, artists, programmers and software engineers.
The Statesman also reported that EA Sports officials said that the new Texas operations would not result in job losses at its other two studios, in Maitland, Fla. and Burnaby, B.C.
EA will seek incentives from the Texas Film Commission, which has an program for which video game makers are eligible, the Statesman added. Texas, under Gov. Rick Perry, has made a priority of recruiting games makers and the games industry to the state.
EA Sports Expanding Austin Presence, Bringing 150 Jobs [Austin American-Statesman]
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