Many players developed a strong dislike for Electronic Arts during the early 2010s.
In a recent interview with The Game Business, Peter Moore, a former executive at Electronic Arts, shared his candid recollections from his time at the company.
During his tenure, Moore was responsible for EA’s sports division. He recounted how, in 2012 and 2013, EA was controversially voted the “Worst Company in America” for two consecutive years by readers of The Consumerist publication:
“We were dubbed the Worst Company in America for two consecutive years – all because of the Mass Effect ending. Seriously, back then, BP was polluting the Gulf of Mexico, and Bank of America had crippled the global economy with subprime mortgages. Yet, somehow, Commander Shepard dies in Mass Effect 3, and that’s what makes us the Worst Company in America. That’s the reality we faced.”
However, Moore’s interview didn’t fully delve into other significant issues from that period that undoubtedly influenced public opinion and contributed to EA receiving the “Worst Company” designation.
For instance, gamers were widely displeased with the new SimCity requiring a constant online connection – a concern Moore himself acknowledged as problematic in a 2013 statement. The forced implementation and widespread issues of the Origin service also generated considerable frustration among players.