Andy Katkin

Earlier today EA’s CEO John Riccitiello spoke at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. as part of the Chamber’s CEO Leadership Series. Riccitiello spoke broadly about the tech sector and the way the industry handles disruptive cycles of rapid creative destruction that can alter the playing field overnight, as well as how that EA has transformed itself in the face of a massive expansion of video game platforms and audiences. He also offered several recommendations for job creation in the U.S. and the steps America needs to take in order to kick start growth once again.

In response to the ongoing questions about EA games being removed from the popular download service Steam, EA’s SVP of Global E-Commerce David DeMartini released the following statement.

Austin, Tx. -- As the old saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. Today that statement holds true for EA’s presence in the state as well. In a press conference this afternoon with Texas Governor Rick Perry, EA Games President Frank Gibeau and EA SPORTS Chief Operating Officer Daryl Holt announced that EA SPORTS will be opening a new studio and adding hundreds of jobs right here in Austin, Texas, consistently recognized as one of the most inventive, creative, wired and rockin' cities in America.

Earlier today EA announced the acquisition of PopCap Games, the creators of smash hits like Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies. The announcement was conveyed to EA employees in an email from CEO John Riccitiello. A copy of the email is included below.