According to Gamasutra, a memo has been sent out to various news outlets indicating that EA CEO John Riccitello has stepped down from his position with the company.

Here is a copy of the press release in its entirety.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 18, 2013 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that John Riccitiello will step down as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective March 30. The Board has appointed Larry Probst as Executive Chairman to ensure a smooth transition and to lead EA’s executive team while the Board conducts a search for a permanent CEO. The Board will consider internal and external candidates with the assistance of a leading executive search firm.

Mr. Probst has played a leadership role at EA since 1991. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board since 1994, he previously served as the Company’s CEO from 1991 to 2007. As CEO, Probst successfully grew the Company’s annual revenues from $175 million to approximately $3 billion, led EA into new platforms such as mobile, online and other emerging markets and expanded its international presence to more than 75 countries.

“We thank John for his contributions to EA since he was appointed CEO in 2007, especially the passion, dedication and energy he brought to the Company every single day,” said Mr. Probst. “John has worked hard to lead the Company through challenging transitions in our industry, and was instrumental in driving
our very significant growth in digital revenues. We appreciate John’s leadership and the many important strategic initiatives he has driven for the Company. We have mutually agreed that this is the right time for a leadership transition.”

On behalf of the Board, Lead Director Richard A. Simonson stated, “As we begin the CEO search, we are fortunate that Larry, who has a proven track record with our employees, partners and customers, has agreed to assume a day-to-day leadership role as Executive Chairman. He has 16 years of experience as CEO of EA and a deep understanding of the Company’s strategy, management team, business potential and industry trends.”

Mr. Riccitiello stated, “EA is an outstanding company with creative and talented employees, and it has been an honor to serve as the Company’s CEO. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and after six years I feel it is the right time for me pass the baton and let new leadership take the Company into its next phase of innovation and growth. I remain very optimistic about EA’s future – there is a world class team driving the Company’s transition to the next generation of game consoles.”

Simcity is only the latest debacle for them, but it was a pretty nasty one.

I wonder who will be the next punching bag?

Honestly not surprised after SWTOR and SIM5 and ME3 and MOHWA...

The EA hate train has been rolling really, really hard since Ricci took over.

Originally posted by BadSpock

Honestly not surprised after SWTOR and SIM5 and ME3 and MOHWA...

The EA hate train has been rolling really, really hard since Ricci took over.

 

been rolling since 1991.

Originally posted by BadSpock

Honestly not surprised after SWTOR and SIM5 and ME3 and MOHWA...

The EA hate train has been rolling really, really hard since Ricci took over.

 

I'm not a fan of Origin, either.

I miss the days when people used to be able to buy and play a game or software without being forced to use Origin, Steam, Adobe Cloud-stuff, etc.

Originally posted by Rthuth434
I know some people are rejoicing, but they shouldn't be. those people are too young to remember EA's full history (pre- mass effect) so they're ignorant. Probst is the most vile CEO ever and gave EA their bad name. the only things you should expect to change is no more new IP's from the company whatsoever(buh bye mirrior's edge, dead space, etc.) and they'll ramp up their acquisition of smaller developers to what it was under Probst from 94-07.

Probst is just taking the seat for the time being, he most likely won't be in that position for long, the article clearly states that they are looking for their next CEO who would be more of a long term solution.

Well it has to be said that Riccitiello certainly won't be missed, hopefully their next CEO turns out a bit better.

I wonder how many more careers need to be destroyed before the gaming community is satisfied with their bloodlust...

Whomever thinks this CEO's career is ruined is naive. Every CEO, especially those from larger companies get golden parachutes, the likes of which could get the average person by for a good 40+ years. So I refuse to feel bad for the guy, at all, ever. 

EA has a horrible reputation in the PC world and a dubous reputation in the console world. To say the CEO is the one to blame isa  bit goofy, obviously a ton of his VPs, Directors and Management are equally to blame if not more-so. Regardless he is taking the fall and we can only help that the next CEO is hand-on enough to really change how things are working.

One suit down, houndreds left who will take his spot.

EA is the symbol of big corps who favour profits over good games so this will most likely not change anything. They will continue to buy up, and destroy, good gaming companies to make a profit. They are the vulture capitalists of gaming.

JR-

"This is a point that I think might be lost on many is a big and substantial portion of digital revenues are micro transactions. When you are six hours into playing Battlefield and you run out of ammo in your clip, and we ask you for a dollar to reload."

"You’re really not very price sensitive at that point in time and for what it’s worth the cogs on the clip really low. And so essentially when as it happening and the reason though the play first, pay later model works so nicely is the consumer gets engaged in a property, they might spend 10, 20, 30, 50 hours in the game."

"And then when you’re deep into the game, they’re well invested in it. We’re not gauging but we’re charging and at that point in time the commitment can be pretty high."

Good riddance.

Originally posted by Psychow

I wonder how many more careers need to be destroyed before the gaming community is satisfied with their bloodlust...

 

You probably need more than both hands to count the millions this guy got for stepping down. That plus what he'll get as a "warm welcome" in his next position.

Speaking of a "career destroyed" doesn't apply in those altitudes. Every day we see guys like him wasting people's billions, stepping down for millions and being contracted as a "counsellor" for even more millions right away again in the next company.

Originally posted by Rthuth434
I know some people are rejoicing, but they shouldn't be. those people are too young to remember EA's full history (pre- mass effect) so they're ignorant. Probst is the most vile CEO ever and gave EA their bad name. the only things you should expect to change is no more new IP's from the company whatsoever(buh bye mirrior's edge, dead space, etc.) and they'll ramp up their acquisition of smaller developers to what it was under Probst from 94-07.

No, they definitely should be.  Probst is a piranha to Riccitiello's tigershark, not only that probst is a temporary replacement.  He is basically there to make sure the boat stays floating until they can find a replacement.