EA Sports signs Virgin Gaming as its official "worldwide provider" of online tournaments

EA has announced it's to make Virgin Gaming its official "worldwide provider" of online tournaments for EA Sports' competitive play, pay-to-enter and sponsored tournaments.

As part of the agreement, Virgin Gaming's tournament platform will be integrated with select EA Sports titles on PS3 and Xbox 360. The addition will contain a "seamless web functionality" along with "enhanced community tools" for competitive gaming.

"Competitive online gaming is an increasingly popular component of our industry and a great way for EA Sports and Virgin Gaming to help connect gamers around the world through the global language of sports," said EA Sports head Peter Moore in the press release. "Virgin Gaming demonstrates the system-wide integrity we desire, and this is a great opportunity for EA SPORTS fans to experience secure and impeccably managed online tournaments for some of our top titles."

The first tournaments will begin early 2011, with details to be announced in the near future.

Ubisoft announced last summer that Virgin would be the online tournament provider for some of its multiplayer console releases including Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.