Electronic Arts just inaugurated a new development studio in downtown Chicago at 215 West Ohio Street. Staffed by the development team best known for the Fight Night franchise, EA Chicago is currently working on three new games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, including the hip-hop lifestyle game, Def Jam: Icon, an unnamed licensed title, plus a new intellectual property in the fighting videogame genre.

Opening with 150 staffers, EA claims that EA Chicago is one of the company's fastest growing studios, as if other companies take it slow but opening new studios with no people in them. EA can go from zero employees to 150 overnight.

EA reportedly chose the Chicago location for its unique cross-section of talent drawn from across the Midwest, and that by placing the studio in the heart of the city, EA is able to draw from this rich talent pool while offering its employees a sophisticated office space with easy access to public transportation and a host of restaurants and entertainment venues in the near vicinity. Plus, you know, Oprah.
 
 

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