Riccitiello: "We got too fat, too reliant"

EA's outspoken CEO John Riccitiello has admitted that the company got too big and too complacent, leading to its recent woes with sky-high development costs and disappointing financial returns

Speaking at the DICE Summit, he said the current recession is a "blessing in disguise," as it forces publishers to trim the fat and rethink the development process.

"We did get fat in too many places. It seemed like anyone who could draw a guy with a gun with a crayon could get funded," said Riccitiello, reports Gamasutra.

"At least for EA, we got a little too fat, and a little too reliant on where things were."

The publisher has cut up to 1100 jobs at its studios around the globe, including positions at Black Box, Pandemic and Mythic.