Turmoil at Electronic Arts as CEO John Riccitiello Resigns

Earlier this month, Electronic Arts, the nation’s second-largest video-game manufacturer, released a hit title called Dead Space 3. It’s the story of Isaac and John Carver, an adventurous pair that must escape from a devastated planet known as Tau Volantis, repair their damaged spacecraft, and return to earth without being devoured by the ghoulish Necromorphs. The company promised that Dead Space fans would be treated to ”pulse-pounding” moments while they played the games.

More recently, Electronic Arts has been providing its own thrills to investors. On Monday, the company announced that Chief Executive Officer John Riccitiello would step down from his position and leave its board at the end of the month. Riccitiello has been at the helm since 2007. “He lasted a pretty long time, given that the company hasn’t really performed that well,” Edward Woo, an analyst at Ascendiant Capital Markets, told Bloomberg News. “The fact that their stock is up on the news goes to show investors weren’t that big a fan of Riccitiello.”