Videogame publisher Electronic Arts on Wednesday cut its forecast for annual bookings, citing weakness across its established soccer franchise, sparking concerns over a slowdown in the key division and sending its shares tumbling nearly 11%.

Yellow card. Investors penalized Electronic Arts after it warned of a slowdown in its key soccer business—home to the "EA Sports FC" titles that previously carried the FIFA name. In premarket action,

Slower sales of the sports title account for majority of the miss. Electronic Arts Inc. said bookings fell to about $2.22 billion in the third quarter ended Dec. 31, missing forecasts of $2.4 billion to $2.55 billion due to the weak performance of two holiday video games.

Electronic Arts shares sank more than 15% on Thursday, tripped up by a surprise slowdown in spending on the soccer franchise that has shaped its gaming empire.

Shares of Electronic Arts Inc. plunged 18% Thursday morning, the biggest decline since 2008, after the gaming company warned its financial results would be weaker than expected due to poor sales results of two titles released over the holidays.