<PAGE>   1

              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                          on August 4, 1997
                          Registration No. 33-_________

                                    Form S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

        Delaware                                         94-2838567
(State of Incorporation)                       (IRS employer identification no.)

                          1450 Fashion Island Boulevard
                           San Mateo, California 94404
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                          Directors' Stock Option Plan
                             1991 Stock Option Plan
                          Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                           (Full titles of the Plans)

                                 RUTH A. KENNEDY
              Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                              Electronic Arts Inc.
                          1450 Fashion Island Boulevard
                           San Mateo, California 94404
                                 (415) 571-7171
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Proposed              Proposed
           Title of              Maximum               Maximum
          Securities             Amount               Offering              Aggregate       Amount of
             to be                to be               Price Per             Offering      Registration
          Registered           Registered               Share                 Price            Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        <S>                   <C>                   <C>                <C>                 <C>          
         Common Stock         2,350,000 (1)         $33.46875(2)       $78,651,562.50(2)   $23,833.81
       ($0.01 par value)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>

This Registration Statement includes exhibits. The Index to Exhibits appears on
sequentially numbered page 4.

        (1) Includes 50,000 shares available for grant under the Directors'
Stock Option Plan, 2,200,000 shares available for grant under the 1991 Stock
Option Plan and 100,000 shares available for grant under the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, each as of July 31, 1997.

        (2) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) as of July 31, 1997 solely for the
purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee.



<PAGE>   2

STATEMENT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E

Pursuant to General Instruction E, the contents of Registrant's Form S-8
Registration Statement No. 33-41955 filed on July 30, 1991, as amended by
Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-41955 filed November 6,
1991, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-53302 filed October
15, 1992, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-55212 filed
December 1, 1992, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-66836
filed August 2, 1993, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-82166
filed July 29, 1994, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-61783
filed August 11, 1995 and Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No.
33-3-09683 filed August 7, 1996, are hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 5.  EXPERTS.

        The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the Registrant as
of March 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended March 31, 1997, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the
registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

        The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered
hereby will be passed upon for the Registrant by Ruth A. Kennedy, Sr. Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Registrant.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.01    Registrant's Directors' Stock Option Plan and related documents, as
        amended.
4.02    Registrant's 1991 Stock Option Plan and related documents, as amended
4.03    Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and related documents, as
        amended
5.01    Opinion of General Counsel of Registrant regarding legality of the
        securities being issued.
23.01   Consent of General Counsel of Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.01).
23.02   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
24.01   Power of Attorney (see page 2).

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual and corporation whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints E. Stanton McKee and David L.
Carbone and each of them, his or its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents with full power of substitution, for him or it and in his or its name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement of Form
S-8, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or it
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



                                                                               2
<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES


        Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, the Registrant certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city
of San Mateo, State of California, on this 1st day of August, 1997.

                                       ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

                               By:  /s/ Ruth A. Kennedy
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                    Ruth A. Kennedy, Esq.
                               Sr. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

        Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name                                               Title                        Date
----                                               -----                        ----
<S>                                                <C>                          <C>    

Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Lawrence F. Probst III
-----------------------------
Lawrence F. Probst III                             Chairman and                 August 1, 1997
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

Principal Financial Officer:


/s/ E. Stanton McKee, Jr.           
-----------------------------
E. Stanton McKee, Jr.                              Exec. Vice President,        August 1, 1997
                                                   Chief Financial and
                                                   Administrative Officer

Principal Accounting Officer:

/s/ David L. Carbone
-----------------------------
David L. Carbone                                   Vice President, Finance      August 1, 1997
                                                   and Assistant Secretary
Directors:


/s/ M. Richard Asher                               Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
M. Richard Asher


/s/ William J. Byron                               Director                     August 1,  1996
-----------------------------
 William J. Byron


/s/ Daniel H. Case III                             Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
Daniel H. Case III


/s/ Gary M. Kusin                                  Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
Gary M. Kusin


/s/ Timothy Mott                                   Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
Timothy  Mott

</TABLE>



                                                                               3
<PAGE>   4

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number             Description
------             -----------

4.01    Registrant's Directors' Stock Option Plan and related documents, as
        amended.

4.02    Registrant's 1991 Stock Option Plan and related documents, as amended

4.03    Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and related documents, as
        amended

5.01    Opinion of General Counsel of Registrant regarding legality of the
        securities being issued

23.01   Consent of General Counsel of Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.01)

23.02   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

24.01   Power of Attorney (see page 2)



                                                                               4
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9871}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ELECTRONIC ARTS INC", "cik": "0000712515", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "942838567", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-32771", "film-number": "97650981"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1450 FASHION ISLAND BLVD", "city": "SAN MATEO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94404", "phone": "4155717171"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "ELECTRONIC ARTS", "date-changed": "19911211"}}
1

              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                          on August 4, 1997
                          Registration No. 33-_________

                                    Form S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

        Delaware                                         94-2838567
(State of Incorporation)                       (IRS employer identification no.)

                          1450 Fashion Island Boulevard
                           San Mateo, California 94404
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                          Directors' Stock Option Plan
                             1991 Stock Option Plan
                          Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                           (Full titles of the Plans)

                                 RUTH A. KENNEDY
              Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                              Electronic Arts Inc.
                          1450 Fashion Island Boulevard
                           San Mateo, California 94404
                                 (415) 571-7171
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Proposed              Proposed
           Title of              Maximum               Maximum
          Securities             Amount               Offering              Aggregate       Amount of
             to be                to be               Price Per             Offering      Registration
          Registered           Registered               Share                 Price            Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock         2,350,000 (1)         $33.46875(2)       $78,651,562.50(2)   $23,833.81
       ($0.01 par value)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Registration Statement includes exhibits. The Index to Exhibits appears on
sequentially numbered page 4.

        (1) Includes 50,000 shares available for grant under the Directors'
Stock Option Plan, 2,200,000 shares available for grant under the 1991 Stock
Option Plan and 100,000 shares available for grant under the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, each as of July 31, 1997.

        (2) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) as of July 31, 1997 solely for the
purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee.
2

STATEMENT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E

Pursuant to General Instruction E, the contents of Registrant's Form S-8
Registration Statement No. 33-41955 filed on July 30, 1991, as amended by
Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-41955 filed November 6,
1991, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-53302 filed October
15, 1992, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-55212 filed
December 1, 1992, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-66836
filed August 2, 1993, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-82166
filed July 29, 1994, Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-61783
filed August 11, 1995 and Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No.
33-3-09683 filed August 7, 1996, are hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 5.  EXPERTS.

        The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the Registrant as
of March 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended March 31, 1997, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the
registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

        The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered
hereby will be passed upon for the Registrant by Ruth A. Kennedy, Sr. Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Registrant.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.01    Registrant's Directors' Stock Option Plan and related documents, as
        amended.
4.02    Registrant's 1991 Stock Option Plan and related documents, as amended
4.03    Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and related documents, as
        amended
5.01    Opinion of General Counsel of Registrant regarding legality of the
        securities being issued.
23.01   Consent of General Counsel of Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.01).
23.02   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
24.01   Power of Attorney (see page 2).

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual and corporation whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints E. Stanton McKee and David L.
Carbone and each of them, his or its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents with full power of substitution, for him or it and in his or its name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement of Form
S-8, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or it
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                                                               2
3

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, the Registrant certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city
of San Mateo, State of California, on this 1st day of August, 1997.

                                       ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

                               By:  /s/ Ruth A. Kennedy
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                    Ruth A. Kennedy, Esq.
                               Sr. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

        Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated:
Name                                               Title                        Date
----                                               -----                        ----
Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Lawrence F. Probst III
-----------------------------
Lawrence F. Probst III                             Chairman and                 August 1, 1997
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

Principal Financial Officer:

/s/ E. Stanton McKee, Jr.           
-----------------------------
E. Stanton McKee, Jr.                              Exec. Vice President,        August 1, 1997
                                                   Chief Financial and
                                                   Administrative Officer

Principal Accounting Officer:

/s/ David L. Carbone
-----------------------------
David L. Carbone                                   Vice President, Finance      August 1, 1997
                                                   and Assistant Secretary
Directors:

/s/ M. Richard Asher                               Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
M. Richard Asher

/s/ William J. Byron                               Director                     August 1,  1996
-----------------------------
 William J. Byron

/s/ Daniel H. Case III                             Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
Daniel H. Case III

/s/ Gary M. Kusin                                  Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
Gary M. Kusin

/s/ Timothy Mott                                   Director                     August 1, 1997
-----------------------------
Timothy  Mott
3
4

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number             Description
------             -----------

4.01    Registrant's Directors' Stock Option Plan and related documents, as
        amended.

4.02    Registrant's 1991 Stock Option Plan and related documents, as amended

4.03    Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and related documents, as
        amended

5.01    Opinion of General Counsel of Registrant regarding legality of the
        securities being issued

23.01   Consent of General Counsel of Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.01)

23.02   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

24.01   Power of Attorney (see page 2)

                                                                               4