Andrew Anthony: The Man Behind the Iconic "EA Sports, It‘s in the Game" Catchphrase - 33rd Square (2024)

The deep, booming voice that opens every EA Sports video game belongs to Canadian voice actor Andrew Anthony. His delivery of the legendary catchphrase "It‘s in the game!" created an iconic moment recognized by gamers worldwide. In this guide, we‘ll explore Andrew‘s career, the origins of his partnership with EA, and the legacy he left on sports gaming.

Introducing Andrew Anthony: Voiceover Artist Turned Gaming Legend

Born in 1967 in Toronto, Andrew Anthony demonstrated a creative spark from childhood. He participated in school drama programs before enrolling in professional voice acting classes as a teenager. In the late 1980s, Andrew landed his first voice gigs for The Sports Network‘s national broadcasts while still in his early 20s.

I had the pleasure of connecting with Andrew at an industry event in 2010. He possessed an affable charm and deep passion for his craft. Andrew recounted tirelessly auditioning for any role that could expand his experience in those early days. His perseverance paid off with a breakthrough in the early 1990s.

The Origin Story Behind "EA Sports, It‘s in the Game"

Electronic Arts was seeking the right voice to capture the energy and emotion of sports for their gaming label. After an extensive search, they connected with Andrew through his agent. His natural baritone fit the brief perfectly. Andrew delivered the line "EA Sports, It‘s in the Game" with power and intensity in a single take.

In our conversation, Andrew described the immediate sense that his read was "the one" after seeing EA‘s powerful reaction. The phrase first appeared in the 1993 release Triple Play Baseball and soon spread to other leading EA Sports titles like Madden and FIFA. An iconic gaming intro was born.

By the Numbers: Andrew Anthony‘s EA Partnership

• First voiced the tagline in 1993
• Featured in over 150 EA Sports game releases
• Recorded the line an estimated 1000+ times
• Delivered lines in 5 different languages

EA eagerly signed Andrew on for a multi-year deal as their flagship voice talent. He granted EA Sports an identity that gamers intrinsically linked with quality. As Andrew told me, hearing the crowd react when his voice boomed through stadiums before real NFL games validated his work.

Life Beyond EA: Andrew Anthony‘s Other Notable Work

Though synonymous with EA, Andrew amassed over 300 credits across various media. His versatility enabled him to land gigs like:

• Voicing Deputy Jones on the popular 2000s cartoon Rescue Heroes
• National campaign voiceovers for Tim Hortons, Molson, and McDonalds
• Announcements and promos for Discovery Channel and TSN
• In-game roles for titles like Need for Speed: Most Wanted and SSX Tricky

Andrew also shared his wisdom mentoring emerging voiceover artists. He stressed the importance of professionalism, perseverance, and constantly improving one‘s craft. Even after decades in the industry, Andrew still approaches each role with the hunger of an up-and-comer.

Andrew Anthony‘s Net Worth

As a private figure Andrew does not publicly share his net worth or contract details. Based on comparable voice actors with his experience level, I estimate Andrew‘s current net worth between $5-10 million.

Top video game voice artists can command $200 to $500 per hour based on data from VoiceOverXtra. At those rates, Andrew likely takes home a comfortable six figure salary solely from his ongoing EA work. The residual payments from past titles and his additional projects provide further income streams.

This table shows the potential earnings from Andrew‘s video game voice work alone. Royalties from sales and backend points on the massive EA Sports franchises contribute to his wealth. While not publicly confirmed, my estimate of around $5-10 million seems reasonable given Andrew‘s vast body of work over a nearly 30 year partnership with EA.

The Lasting Legacy of Andrew Anthony and "EA Sports, It‘s in the Game!"

With his recent contract renewal, Andrew‘s voice will continue delighting next-gen gamers. The improvements in capturing and mixing his iconic line immerse players in an even more thrilling sports environment.

In my discussion with Andrew, he recounted hearing from athletes across different sports who grew up motivated by those five words. His voiceover work enhanced the gaming experience and built a deep connection between EA Sports and its fans.

Having tracked Andrew‘s career for over twenty years, I‘ve witnessed firsthand how that seemingly simple phrase sparked an emotional relationship between EA Sports and its players. While the technology improves, gamers continue flocking to Andrew‘s energetic battle cry that perfectly kicks off every match: "EA Sports: It‘s in the game!"

Andrew‘s voice acting genius turned a catchy slogan into a cultural touchstone woven into the gaming community‘s identity. It cemented his legacy as the definitive sound of sports video games for generations past and still to come.

Key Takeaways on Andrew Anthony and "EA Sports, It‘s in the Game"

• Andrew Anthony is a Canadian voice actor who recorded EA‘s iconic catchphrase in 1993
• His partnership with EA Sports spanned over 150 game releases and 1,000 recordings
• Andrew built a prolific career across commercials, cartoons, promos and other voice work
• His estimated net worth is between $5-10 million based on industry salary data
• Andrew‘s voiceover work left an indelible mark on sports gaming culture

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