Publishing giant Electronic Arts has revealed Apple was its largest retail partner based on sales across the course of the firm's most recent quarter.

Detailed as part of the firm's June quarter results, this is the first time Apple – powered by iOS – has surpassed brick-and-mortar retailers like Best Buy and GameStop, or even EA's own Origin digital download service to claim the publisher's top spot.

The numbers game

Across the quarter EA pulled in $90 million in revenue from games sold on smartphones and tablets, although the firm didn't break down sales made across the various platforms it supports.

However, it did reveal digital platforms as a whole contributed 76 percent of EA's revenue, and Apple has been specifically named as the firm's top retail partner - ahead of Origin.

Said figures were undoubtedly boosted by the success of free-to-play releases Real Racing 3 and The Simpsons: Tapped Out, however, with the latter having got off to a flyer, making $23 million in its first three months alone.


The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Speaking during an earnings call yesterday, EA COO Peter Moore noted that "Our quarter was notable for the high percentage of revenue attributable to digital games and services... To that end, Apple was EA's biggest retail partner measured by sales, and that, is a first."

EA's success in the June quarter accompanied Apple's profitable performance in the same period, which saw its revenue from iTunes, the App Store, and other services surge 25 percent to $3.9 billion.

[source: Apple Insider]