Electronic Arts partner program embraces mobile game developers

Interactive entertainment software firm Electronic Arts will expand its EA Partners program to the company's Chillingo and Playfish units, enabling independent mobile and social game developers to leverage EA's international publishing and distribution network. First established in 2003, EA Partners connects Electronic Arts with studios like Epic Games, Vanguard Games and Paramount Digital Entertainment, expanding the company's slate of available titles for console, PC and digital platforms; EA Partners will now target platforms like Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS, Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android and Facebook as well.

Electronic Arts acquired Chillingo in October 2010, reportedly for under $20 million. Chillingo works with a global network of independent development studios, leveraging its marketing and publishing channels to distribute games across operating systems including iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Phone--marquee partners include Rovio Mobile, the developer behind Angry Birds, and ZeptoLab, the firm responsible for the iPhone smash Cut the Rope. The acquisition followed almost a year after EA snapped up social game creator Playfish for approximately $275 million in cash and roughly $25 million in equity retention arrangements.

The expansion of the EA Partners program arrives alongside news that longtime head David DeMartini will step down in order to take over Electronic Arts' e-commerce division. Bryan Neider will assume the title of EA Partners general manager.

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