<PAGE>


                 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                  on August 6, 1996
                            Registration No. 33-
                                             ---------
                                       Form S-8
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

           Delaware                               94-2838567
    (State of Incorporation)           (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

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

                                1991 Stock Option Plan
                               (Full title of the Plan)

                                   RUTH A. KENNEDY
                    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     900,000 (1)  $30.00(2)   $26,831,250 (2)     $9,252
 ($0.01 par value)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    (1)  Includes 900,000 shares available for grant under the 1991 Stock
Option Plan as of July 31, 1996.

    (2)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) as of  August 1, 1996 solely for the
purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee.

<PAGE>

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 and Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-
61783 filed August 11, 1995 are hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 5.  EXPERTS.

    The consolidated balance sheet statements of the Registrant as of March 31,
1995 and 1996 and the  consolidated financial statements and schedules of the
Registrant for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 1996
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement have been incorporated
herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.  To the extent that KPMG Peat Marwick LLP audits and
reports on financial statements of the Registrant issued at future dates, and
consents to the use of their report thereon, such financial statements also will
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in reliance upon
their report and said authority.

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

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.01     Registrant's 1991 Stock Option Plan and related documents, as amended.
5.01     Opinion of General Counsel regarding legality of the securities being
         issued.
23.01    Consent of General Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.01).
23.02    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Accountants.
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>

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 6th day of August, 1996

                                       ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

                                       By:       Ruth A. Kennedy
                                          ------------------------------------
                                                 Ruth A. Kennedy, Esq.
                                       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
Lawrence F. Probst III
- ------------------------------
Lawrence F. Probst III            President, Chairman           August 6, 1996
                                  and Chief Executive Officer

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER:
E. Stanton McKee, Jr.
- ------------------------------
E. Stanton McKee, Jr.             Sr. Vice President,           August 6, 1996
                                  Chief Financial and
                                  Administrative Officer

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER:
David L. Carbone
- ------------------------------
David L. Carbone                  Vice President,               August 6, 1996
                                  Controller and
                                  Assistant Secretary
DIRECTORS:

M. Richard Asher
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
M. Richard Asher


William J. Byron
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
William J. Byron


Danial H. Case III
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
Daniel H. Case III



Gary M. Kusin
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
Gary M. Kusin


Timothy Mott
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
Timothy  Mott


                                                                               3

<PAGE>

                                  INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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

4.01     Registrant's 1991 Stock Option 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 (included in
         Exhibit 5.01)

23.02    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Accountants

24.01    Power of Attorney (see page 2)


                                                                               4
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8884}]
{"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": "333-09683", "film-number": "96604702"}, "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"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                  on August 6, 1996
                            Registration No. 33-
                                             ---------
                                       Form S-8
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

           Delaware                               94-2838567
    (State of Incorporation)           (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

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

                                1991 Stock Option Plan
                               (Full title of the Plan)

                                   RUTH A. KENNEDY
                    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     900,000 (1)  $30.00(2)   $26,831,250 (2)     $9,252
 ($0.01 par value)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    (1)  Includes 900,000 shares available for grant under the 1991 Stock
Option Plan as of July 31, 1996.

    (2)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) as of  August 1, 1996 solely for the
purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee.
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 and Registrant's Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-
61783 filed August 11, 1995 are hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 5.  EXPERTS.

    The consolidated balance sheet statements of the Registrant as of March 31,
1995 and 1996 and the  consolidated financial statements and schedules of the
Registrant for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 1996
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement have been incorporated
herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.  To the extent that KPMG Peat Marwick LLP audits and
reports on financial statements of the Registrant issued at future dates, and
consents to the use of their report thereon, such financial statements also will
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in reliance upon
their report and said authority.

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

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.01     Registrant's 1991 Stock Option Plan and related documents, as amended.
5.01     Opinion of General Counsel regarding legality of the securities being
         issued.
23.01    Consent of General Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.01).
23.02    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Accountants.
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
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 6th day of August, 1996

                                       ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.

                                       By:       Ruth A. Kennedy
                                          ------------------------------------
                                                 Ruth A. Kennedy, Esq.
                                       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
Lawrence F. Probst III
- ------------------------------
Lawrence F. Probst III            President, Chairman           August 6, 1996
                                  and Chief Executive Officer

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER:
E. Stanton McKee, Jr.
- ------------------------------
E. Stanton McKee, Jr.             Sr. Vice President,           August 6, 1996
                                  Chief Financial and
                                  Administrative Officer

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER:
David L. Carbone
- ------------------------------
David L. Carbone                  Vice President,               August 6, 1996
                                  Controller and
                                  Assistant Secretary
DIRECTORS:

M. Richard Asher
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
M. Richard Asher

William J. Byron
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
William J. Byron

Danial H. Case III
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
Daniel H. Case III

Gary M. Kusin
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
Gary M. Kusin

Timothy Mott
- ------------------------------    Director                      August 6, 1996
Timothy  Mott

                                                                               3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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

4.01     Registrant's 1991 Stock Option 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 (included in
         Exhibit 5.01)

23.02    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Accountants

24.01    Power of Attorney (see page 2)

                                                                               4