Electronic Arts shares sank more than 15 percent on Thursday, tripped up by a surprise slowdown in spending on the soccer franchise that has shaped its gaming empire.
The videogame maker debuted its newest soccer title, FC 25, in September, the latest in a series of top sellers. But this version did not get the warm reception its predecessors did, denting revenue in the live services segment, EA's biggest earner.
FC 25 was hit with mixed reviews as players bemoaned the lack of new features and innovation, including in-game physics and goal-scoring mechanisms, Jefferies analysts said.
The vocal criticism led to a sweeping update in January that "received overwhelmingly positive player feedback", the analysts added.
As a result of the early underperformance, however, EA lowered its annual revenue forecast on Wednesday. It also projected a mid-single-digit decline in annual live-service bookings.