Electronic Arts takes over rights for UFC video game

E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo), the biggest video game expo in the world is under way and on Monday came a major announcement at the hands of Electronic Arts and UFC President Dana White.

THQ’s days are over as Electronic Arts just announced that they have aquired the rights to the UFC video game. THQ had owned the rights to UFC video games since the first showing of UFC Undisputed 2009.

“We’ve relished our relationship with UFC over the last several years and believe that the UFC gaming brand is in great shape. THQ’s more focused strategy moving forward meant that transferring the license to EA made sense to all parties,” said THQ CEO Brian Farrell. “We’d like to thank the UFC for their great support and partnership and wish EA all the best moving forward.”

Just after the announcement was made, Dana White had this to say via his twitter account.

UFC had done a deal with EA sports for the UFC video game!!!!!! 🙂

“We’d like to thank THQ for creating some of the most critically acclaimed sports videogames of this console generation, and we’re excited to enter a new relationship with EA that will help us deepen our connection with fighting fans around the world,” said UFC President Dana White via press release.

EA is known world-wide for their array of sports video games, including Madden NFL Football, NHL Hockey, FIFA Soccer, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR golf and many more.

“There’s no one better at creating authentic sports video games than EA Sports, and we’re excited to have a partner who shares our vision of deep, connected and multi-platform global game experiences.”

Back in 2009 when White and the UFC had originally approached EA about a MMA video game, the folks at EA turned him down stating that MMA ‘was not a sport’. This seems to have changed not too long after, as EA released their MMA video game entitled ‘EA Sports MMA.’ EA had many fans of the first MMA game, however sales suffered due to the lack of this license. EA has a new multi-year multi-game partnership with UFC and below is what Andrew Wilson, EVP and Head of EA Sports had to say.

“We’re thrilled to begin a long-term partnership that will bring fans incredibly authentic, and deeply connected, UFC videogames. UFC has become a global powerhouse because they have the world’s best fighters, competing in the world’s best mixed martial arts events. We share UFC’s passion for the sport, and we look forward to capturing all of the intensity and excitement of the action with unique new game experiences across a range of platforms.”