Who is the EA Guy? The Story Behind the Iconic Voice
If you‘ve played an EA Sports video game, you know the voice. As the game loads up, a deep, booming voice declares "EA Sports, it‘s in the game." That legendary catchphrase has been around for over 25 years. But who is the man behind this iconic voice?
That voice belongs to Canadian voice actor Andrew Anthony. As the longtime voice of EA Sports, Anthony is responsible for one of the most instantly recognizable taglines in gaming history. In this article, we‘ll explore Andrew Anthony‘s career, his net worth, and his legacy as the definitive voice of EA Sports.
From Small Town Guy to Famous Voice Actor
Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in Canada, Andrew Anthony seemed destined for sports and entertainment. He was active in hockey, football, theater, and broadcasting in his youth. After high school, Anthony attended Mount Royal University in Calgary where he continued his broadcasting and theater studies.
After college, Anthony landed his first voice acting gig recording local radio commercials in Calgary. His deep, smooth voice got him noticed quickly in the industry. Before long, he was voicing national commercials on Canadian radio and TV.
According to Anthony, “I was always into sports as a kid and doing voices and impersonations came naturally to me.” His talent for mimicking announcers and commentators set him up perfectly for a career in sports voiceover work.
In the late 90s, Electronic Arts was seeking a powerful voice for their new tagline "It‘s in the game." They had the perfect script but needed the right voice to bring it to life. After an extensive search and audition process, the team at EA Sports selected Andrew Anthony as the ideal voice.
Anthony has been the exclusive voice of EA Sports taglines and marketing ever since. He voices all EA Sports franchises, including Madden, FIFA, NHL, NBA Live, UFC, and more. While the tagline has evolved over the years, Anthony‘s voice remains the constant fans associate with EA Sports.
Outside of EA, Andrew Anthony built an impressive resume as a voice actor. He has voiced characters on shows like ReBoot, Action Man, Dragon Tales, and Hot Wheels Battle Force 5. Gamers may also recognize his voice as Victor Sullivan from the Uncharted series.
How Much is the EA Sports Voice Actor Worth?
It‘s no surprise that Andrew Anthony has built substantial wealth from his prolific voice acting career. His net worth is estimated at around $1.5 million.
As the voice of EA Sports for over 20 years, Anthony likely commands handsome compensation. The exact amount he earns for EA voiceover work is confidential, but it‘s sure to be a sizable chunk of his income.
On top of his EA salary, Anthony has voiced countless TV commercials and characters in TV shows and movies. His expertise and instantly recognizable voice keep him in high demand. At only 58 years old, Anthony still has many more money-earning years ahead in his voice acting career.
By the Numbers: The Massive Impact of EA Sports
To understand Andrew Anthony‘s wealth, it helps to appreciate just how massive the EA Sports brand truly is. Their games sell tens of millions of copies each year and generate billions in revenue. Here are some key figures about EA Sports:
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More than $4.6 billion in total net revenue annually for EA Sports division
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FIFA games have sold over 325 million copies over the lifetime of the franchise
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Madden NFL games have sold more than 130 million copies since 1988
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EA pays the NFL approximately $1 billion over 8 years for exclusive rights
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FIFA games accounted for 28% of total EA revenue in 2021
As the voice of EA Sports, Andrew Anthony is directly associated with one of the most valuable brands in all of gaming. His voice is inevitably a part of EA‘s multi-billion dollar success.
Andrew Anthony‘s Vocal Legacy in Gaming
For generations of gamers, the voice of Andrew Anthony is the sound of sports video games. His booming delivery of "It‘s in the game" perfectly captures the energy and excitement that EA Sports aims to recreate digitally.
According to veteran video game sound designer Larry The O, "His voice has that perfect macho sporty vibe. It just sounds like sports." Anthony‘s natural vocal talents made him the ideal choice for EA Sports in the 90s and his voice remains perfect for them today.
Over 20 years later, "It‘s in the game" remains one of the most iconic, effective taglines in advertising history. For many fans, hearing Anthony‘s voice triggers nostalgia and emotions tied to memories of beloved EA Sports titles.
In a industry constantly chasing the hottest new thing, Anthony‘s voice work stands the test of time. Decade after decade, his delivery of that simple five-word tagline gives EA Sports credibility and clout with every single gamer who hears it.
My Take: Andrew Anthony‘s Special Vocal Sauce
In my opinion, what makes Andrew Anthony so perfectly suited to voice EA Sports is his special vocal sauce. His voice has just the right texture and energy to capture the feeling of sports excitement.
Anthony‘s voice is smooth yet powerful. He delivers the tagline with a reverent boom, emphasizing each syllable. You feel like you‘re listening to an announcer in awe of an amazing play on the field.
That boisterous, gravelly voice coming through your speakers sounds like how a great sporting moment feels. The hairs on your arms stand up and you can‘t help but crack a smile.
On top of his ideal vocal qualities, you can tell Anthony delivers the line with genuine passion. Even after decades voicing EA Sports taglines, he still sounds like a total super-fan. His enthusiasm comes through in every syllable.
Of course, superb writing like "It‘s in the game" gives Anthony fantastic material to work with too. But his emphatic delivery is what cements it as an all-time great tagline. Anthony‘s voiceover combines sports nostalgia, passion, and showmanship in a way no other voice has managed for EA Sports.
The Voice that Sparked a Legacy
Andrew Anthony had the perfect set of skills and the ideal voice to give "It‘s in the game" everlasting life. His booming delivery turned a great tagline into an iconic pillar of sports entertainment.
Anthony‘s voice acting talent earned him financial success and acclaim in the video game industry. But more importantly, it spawned a legacy that lives on through the joy his voice brings gamers every time they hear "It‘s in the game."
So next time you fire up FIFA or Madden and that familiar voice sends chills down your spine, think of Andrew Anthony. The man, the voice, the legend behind one of gaming‘s most enduring audio icons.