EA may sell dormant IPs like Ultima after Saudi acquisition

While Electronic Arts is often seen as the home of massive franchises like Battlefield and The Sims, the company’s catalog holds a treasure trove of intellectual property (IPs) that often sits dormant. Now, following a major buyout, the big question is what happens to these forgotten digital legacies. Could some of these classic titles finally find the attention they deserve?

The answer, according to industry insiders, lies not just in the massive financial restructuring, but in the dormant content sitting in the corporate vault. Emmanuel Rosier, a former high-level manager at EA, now serves as the director of market intelligence at Newzoo. He has insight into the industry trends and market forces currently shaping EA’s future, and he suggests that the company possesses numerous IPs that have not been utilized for years.

Rosier points to classics like Ultima and Wing Commander, among other titles, which have yet to be effectively leveraged. He poses the critical question: will these dormant IPs be sold off to more attentive owners, or will external studios be hired to breathe new life into them?

The potential for sale or external development offers a path to generate the necessary cash flow for the company to navigate its debt. In a period focused on cost reduction and massive financial maneuvers, selling off established, yet underutilized, IP could be a swift way to unlock valuable assets.

This idea extends beyond selling. The path forward might involve leveraging these properties by partnering with external studios, perhaps targeting mobile gaming markets where classic IPs could find a fresh audience. This approach allows the IP to benefit from modern development techniques without requiring EA to shoulder the entire burden of a massive revival.

The list of potential assets is extensive. Think of the legacy titles like SimCity, Dungeon Keeper, Populous, Burnout, and Spore—gaming foundations that remain waiting in the corporate archive. These are games that were foundational to their genres and are sorely missed by many fans.

It is understandable that these classics languish in a vault, given the current financial pressures. Yet, the existence of these titles—some of which influenced many of today’s best RPGs—demonstrates a powerful, untapped potential. Whether these IPs are sold or reborn, their legacy ensures that the history of gaming will continue to shape the future.