Electronic Arts To Create Harry Potter Games

Posted on August 11, 2000

Electronic Arts, an entertainment software company, has announced that it has been awarded the exclusive worldwide interactive rights to develop, publish and distribute computer and video games based on the popular Harry Potter book series.

``EA has accepted the challenge to create a series of interactive games that reflect the incredible imagination of J.K. Rowling's books,'' said Don Mattrick, president of EA worldwide studios. ``We are extremely excited to become part of the Harry Potter phenomenon by bringing our own brand of interactive magic to this fantastic series.''

Under the agreement, EA will publish games based on all current Harry Potter books; the upcoming feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures; and any subsequent Harry Potter films distributed during the terms of the agreement. The license grants EA the exclusive right to develop and publish products for all current and next generation video game consoles and handheld platforms. In addition, EA has been granted rights to publish and distribute games designed to be played online over the Internet. EA's online division, EA.com, has the exclusive programming rights for the AOL Games Channel and game areas of the AOL brands.

``With the Harry Potter series of books, J.K. Rowling has created an interactive experience that has sparked the imaginations of readers worldwide,'' said Dan Romanelli, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products. ``Warner Bros. Consumer Products continues to be focused on capturing the magic of Harry Potter, and we look forward to working closely with EA to bring this experience to the gaming world.''