In 2016, Electronic Arts established an indie publishing division, EA Originals, following the success of the thread-based puzzle platformer Unravel; Fe (another platformer), A Way Out (a multiplayer prison break play), Sea of Solitude (a boat trip through a flooded city), and Lost in Random (an action-adventure in which dice awaken), followed by EA-backed indie games.

There were also a few online multiplayer games: Rocket Arena and Knockout City, the latter of which EA returned control to its creators when it went free-to-play in 2022. Later, developer Veran Studios announced that it would shut down Knockout City.

Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz (opens in new tab), Jeff Gamon, general manager of EA Partners, which oversees EA Originals, said, "Whatever the outcome, we are very proud of our relationships with all our partners. We are very proud of our relationships with all of our partners, no matter what the outcome. We are still very close with Guha and Karthik [founders of Veran Studios]. We have been by their side every step of the way. We are completely transparent. This is the kind of thing we work together to create from day one." [EA Originals' next release is not such a niche issue. It's "Wild Hearts," a Monster Hunter-style action game developed by Koei Tecmo's Omega Force, the company behind the "Dynasty Warriors" series and "Persona 5: Strikers. "EA Originals will be launching the game later this year, with three "Call of Duty" series games and "Dead Space" creative Immortals of Aveum, a big-budget wizard shooter from Ascendant Studios, whose CEO Brett Robbins served as director. Neither is in the same vein as the sad puzzle platformer.

"We found ourselves looking for bigger, better, and more innovative titles that would complement EA's portfolio," said EA's CEO, David Harris. We started out with small indie games, but now we're moving into independently produced games of all shapes, sizes, and budgets." We are moving from niche to bold and daring."

Gammon emphasized that despite this move away from niche, EA Originals will continue to publish low-budget games in addition to these potential blockbusters. 'We are making games on a larger scale,' he said. These basic values will not change. The structure of any deal is completely bespoke." Gammon said he is interested in games that "move genres," explaining that the studios he works with will have access to EA's resources, but "we will protect them from the big company that is EA and make sure they keep their creative freedom."

"Wild Hearts" is due out this week, and "Immortals of Aveum" will be released in late 2023 Another game under the EA Originals umbrella has been revealed, and it will be developed by Glowmade Games, a studio founded by former Lionhead staff RustHeart," which is being developed by Glowmade Games, a studio founded by former Lionhead staff.