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Commitments And Contingencies
 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments And Contingencies
(12) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Development, Celebrity, League and Content Licenses: Payments and Commitments
The products we produce in our studios are designed and created by our employee designers, artists, software programmers and by non-employee software developers (“independent artists” or “third-party developers”). We typically advance development funds to the independent artists and third-party developers during development of our games, usually in installment payments made upon the completion of specified development milestones. Contractually, these payments are generally considered advances against subsequent royalties on the sales of the products. These terms are set forth in written agreements entered into with the independent artists and third-party developers.
In addition, we have certain celebrity, league and content license contracts that contain minimum guarantee payments and marketing commitments that may not be dependent on any deliverables. Celebrities and organizations with whom we have contracts include, but are not limited to: FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), FIFPRO Foundation, FAPL (Football Association Premier League Limited), DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga E.V. (German Soccer League), and Liga Nacional De Futbol Profesional (professional soccer); National Basketball Association and National Basketball Players Association (professional basketball); National Hockey League and NHL Players’ Association (professional hockey); NFL Properties LLC, NFL Players Association and NFL Players Inc. on behalf of OneTeam Partners, LLC (professional football); William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC (professional mixed martial arts); ESPN (content in EA SPORTS games); Disney Interactive (Star Wars); and Fox Digital Entertainment, Inc. (The Simpsons). These developer and content license commitments represent the sum of (1) the cash payments due under non-royalty-bearing licenses and services agreements and (2) the minimum guaranteed payments and advances against royalties due under royalty-bearing licenses and services agreements, the majority of which are conditional upon performance by the counterparty. These minimum guarantee payments and any related marketing commitments are included in the table below.
The following table summarizes our minimum contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020 (in millions):
Fiscal Years Ending March 31,
2021
(Remaining
Totalthree mos.)20222023202420252026Thereafter
Unrecognized commitments
Developer/licensor commitments$1,839 $31 $307 $367 $357 $366 $273 $138 
Marketing commitments675 27 151 131 129 117 85 35 
Senior Notes interest102 7 20 19 19 19 18 — 
Operating lease imputed interest31 2 7 5 4 3 2 8 
Operating leases not yet commenced (a)
151 — 2 3 7 12 14 113 
Other purchase obligations99 15 59 20 3 1 1 — 
Total unrecognized commitments2,897 82 546 545 519 518 393 294 
Recognized commitments
Senior Notes principal and interest1,014 614 — — — — 400 — 
Operating leases295 21 68 44 37 31 25 69 
Transition Tax and other taxes66 22 24 3 4 6 7 — 
Licensing commitments34 7 27 — — — — — 
Total recognized commitments1,409 664 119 47 41 37 432 69 
Total Commitments$4,306 $746 $665 $592 $560 $555 $825 $363 

(a)As of December 31, 2020, we have entered into four office leases that have not yet commenced with aggregate future lease payments of approximately $151 million. These office leases are expected to commence between the remainder of fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2023, and will have lease terms ranging from 5 to 12 years.
The unrecognized amounts represented in the table above reflect our minimum cash obligations for the respective fiscal years, but do not necessarily represent the periods in which they will be recognized and expensed in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, the amounts in the table above are presented based on the dates the amounts are contractually due as of December 31, 2020; however, certain payment obligations may be accelerated depending on the performance of our operating results.
In addition to what is included in the table above, as of December 31, 2020, we had a liability for unrecognized tax benefits and an accrual for the payment of related interest totaling $275 million, of which we are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of when cash settlement with a taxing authority will occur.
Legal Proceedings
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (“NGA”) has asserted that the randomized selection of virtual items in the FIFA Ultimate Team mode of our FIFA franchise contravenes the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act. On October 15, 2020, the District Court of the Hague affirmed the NGA’s decision. We have appealed the District Court’s order, and the NGA’s decision is suspended through the appeals process. We do not believe that the operational or financial consequences from these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We do not believe that our products and services violate applicable gambling laws.
We are also subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any liability from any reasonably foreseeable disposition of such claims and litigation, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.