Entertainment Editors/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2003--

Next Installment in Successful Franchise Allows Gamers to Play as Harry, Ron, or Hermione as They Face Harry's Most Terrifying Opponents yet: the Escaped Convict Sirius Black and the Dreaded Dementors of Azkaban

Harry Potter(TM) fans will experience the magic and peril of Harry's third year at Hogwarts(TM) in the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(TM) videogame shipping in spring 2004, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today.

For the first time gamers will play as friends Ron Weasley(TM) and Hermione Granger(TM) as well as Harry Potter, switching between characters and utilizing their key attributes and skills to resolve challenges and overcome enemies. The three friends will need to combine their strengths and master a variety of new spells as they face Harry's most terrifying opponents yet: the escaped convict Sirius Black(TM) and the Dementors(TM), the sinister guards of Azkaban prison.

From the opening scene on the Hogwarts Express(TM) to the climatic finale on the shore of the great lake at Hogwarts, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban videogame will immerse players in the magical world of Harry Potter. Players will unravel the mystery surrounding Sirius Black and his escape from the infamous wizard prison Azkaban, as they take part in the most exciting and challenging Harry Potter videogame adventure yet. Gamers will encounter a host of new characters and creatures, engage in a variety of sub-quests, fly on a Hippogriff, reveal the secrets of the Marauder's Map, and take on their friends in multiple two-player challenges.

Under development by EA's UK Studio, the team behind the worldwide success of the Harry Potter library of games that have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is scheduled for release for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance, and PC CD-ROM.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of $2.5 billion for fiscal 2003. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM), and EA SPORTS BIG(TM). EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and EA GAMES are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (TM), (R), Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo. Microsoft and Xbox are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights (C) JKR.

    CONTACT: Electronic Arts
             Kirsten Merit,  (PR Manager)
              
             Jeane Wong,  (Director of Media Relations)