EA is Cautious, But Optimistic About Switch, No Games Planned After FIFA

[Steven Bogos]

EA is Cautious, But Optimistic About Switch, No Games Planned After FIFA

//cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/1375/1375466.jpg
EA is optimistic about what the Switch is doing, but doesn't have any plans for additional games past FIFA.

At Nintendo's big Switch reveal, it boasted the support of many developers, big and small. This includes gaming giant EA, which announced a new version of FIFA built exclusively for the console. However, this doesn't constitute EA's unwavering support, as executive vice president Patrick Soderlund explains in this interview with IGN [http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/17/why-ea-is-supporting-nintendo-switch-at-launch?abthid=587e69a86fb4cd9853000012] that whille the company is optimistic about Nintendo's new toy, it's very much a "wait-and-see" approach the company is taking.

"We have the benefit of being a platform agnostic company," he said. "We will be at whatever platform the consumers are. New hardware is always a positive for our industry. It allows us to push forward."

As of now, FIFA is the only game EA has announced for the system, which Soderlund says is due to it being "the brand that spans across the most markets. It's the brand that spans the biggest age demographic. It's a mass market proposition. It's a game a lot of people want to play." When asked about future EA titles he said "We are not announcing anything [else] yet, but you can expect us to be there once the platform launches and takes off."

Soderlund did have a lot of nice things to say about the Switch, however, praising Nintendo for forcing developers to think differently, and changing conventions. "What I like about Nintendo is that they come to the table with a slightly different approach," he explained.

So don't hold your breath for the likes of Mass Effect or Dragon Age on the Switch until things start taking off.

Source: IGN [http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/17/why-ea-is-supporting-nintendo-switch-at-launch?abthid=587e69a86fb4cd9853000012]

Permalink

 

[Fox12]

They certainly seemed... optimistic during the reveal.

 

[Bedinsis]

That all sounded like a reasonable approach on EA's part. And I actually believe everything he said.

...is there something wrong with me?

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

i.e. EA will once again try to screw Nintendo over due to not getting preferential treatment and then ***** and moan like a three year old when people don't reward their mediocre contributions.

 

[Cold Shiny]

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

Screw you.
Love,
Nintendo fans

 

[MonsterCrit]

Optimistic:
"Gee, I sure hope this system does well."

Enthusiastic:
"We need to start porting games now!"

Committed:
"We have a number of games ear-markeed for the Switch."

See. Optimisim don't cost jack squat. So companies are always optimistic. They were Optimistic about the Wii-U too. They were Optimistic about the PS Vitta.

 

[Bedinsis]

i.e. EA will once again try to screw Nintendo over [...]

What are you getting at? Are you talking about how few titles they published on the Wii U? The low number is disappointing but the Wii U was a disappointment from a sales perspective, so I can't blame EA for not trying harder.

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

EA gets a lot of bashing, a lot of it well deserved, but the reason people still buy their titles is because they still make good games. Therefore I don't see why you are actively against them publishing titles for the system.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

Screw you.
Love,
Nintendo fans

Yeah, because the Wii U did so great with such a limited selection of games and EA totally didn't publish one of the best-selling games this holiday season.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Most of EA's current game's system requirements exceed what the Switch is capable of doing. At the most, EA will port a few (very) old games to the system.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

What are you getting at? Are you talking about how few titles they published on the Wii U? The low number is disappointing but the Wii U was a disappointment from a sales perspective, so I can't blame EA for not trying harder.

Except that argument falls apart when you take the 3DS into account. Over 60 millions units sold and counting, yet EA can't be bothered to do a single thing with it. Doesn't take a genius to see how much potential they're squandering there.

 

[Saltyk]

Totally not surprised to see the Nintendo Defense Force in this thread.

Anyway, that sure doesn't sound optimistic. Not that I blame EA, nor am I surprised. Nintendo is notorious for having shit deals for third party developers (going back to the days of the NES). In addition, Nintendo consoles sell less each generation, with the exception of the Wii. And third party games don't seem to sell very well on Nintendo platforms in general (I think 9 of the Wii's Top 10 selling games were First Party). Add in the thought that the system will be weaker than other current generation consoles and it becomes easy to see why some companies may not want to invest time and effort in it until they know it will perform.

At the end of the day, taking a wait and see approach before you commit is probably a smart move. It's just unfortunate that might end up making the concern a sort of self fulfilling prophecy.

 

[Cold Shiny]

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

Screw you.
Love,
Nintendo fans

Thats cute.

The same Fans some year after release "Why does everyone think the Switch sucks? It has like 10 Games and atleast 2 of those are Mario and Zelda, totally worth spending hundreds of dollars on and not just something for man-children willing to pay the Nintendo-Tax for their version of CoD."

It's amusing that people can't see the writing on the wall considering the Wii U went the same way. They must be in denial or something.

I really don't have to worry about it. EA has made it super clear in the past they they are not interested in Nintendo, like, at all. They will release this one game and then quit forever, and nobody will care.

 

[Cold Shiny]

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

Screw you.
Love,
Nintendo fans

Thats cute.

The same Fans some year after release "Why does everyone think the Switch sucks? It has like 10 Games and atleast 2 of those are Mario and Zelda, totally worth spending hundreds of dollars on and not just something for man-children willing to pay the Nintendo-Tax for their version of CoD."

It's amusing that people can't see the writing on the wall considering the Wii U went the same way. They must be in denial or something.

I really don't have to worry about it. EA has made it super clear in the past they they are not interested in Nintendo, like, at all. They will release this one game and then quit forever, and nobody will care.

You are confusing something here. YOU not caring is not EVERYBODY not caring. Most people don't voice their dissatisfaction with Nintendo Consoles and Third Parties...they simply don't buy the Console. That's why Nintendo Fanboys often find themselves in a losing battle to defend Nintendo's bad decisions...part of the reason why so many of them have a persecution complex.

Nintendos insistence to be different to a fault (much like apple) hurts their customers when it comes to game selection. Most people simply don't consider the console price worth it on top of the price for the few first parties they care to have. Nintendo Consoles are ultimately a bad investment.

Dude, if people want EA games, they are not gonna buy the Nintendo console, they'll buy another home console. NOBODY is gonna buy a Switch and say to themselves "I can't wait for EA to release games on this". I'm laughing just typing it. Its not that EA games are the worst thing on earth, its just that they are clearly established on other systems.

Besides, with the Switch's "N64 graphical power", herr derr, it won't be able to handle any other EA games.

I've finally come to the realization that Nintendo is doomed. Absolutely doomed. They just can't survive in this environment. The people want graphics. They want non-interactivity. They want A-list actors. They want escorted hallways, and they want set pieces. Nintendo has none of those things, and their upcoming demise is gonna be truly depressing.

 

[Cold Shiny]

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

Screw you.
Love,
Nintendo fans

Thats cute.

The same Fans some year after release "Why does everyone think the Switch sucks? It has like 10 Games and atleast 2 of those are Mario and Zelda, totally worth spending hundreds of dollars on and not just something for man-children willing to pay the Nintendo-Tax for their version of CoD."

It's amusing that people can't see the writing on the wall considering the Wii U went the same way. They must be in denial or something.

I really don't have to worry about it. EA has made it super clear in the past they they are not interested in Nintendo, like, at all. They will release this one game and then quit forever, and nobody will care.

You are confusing something here. YOU not caring is not EVERYBODY not caring. Most people don't voice their dissatisfaction with Nintendo Consoles and Third Parties...they simply don't buy the Console. That's why Nintendo Fanboys often find themselves in a losing battle to defend Nintendo's bad decisions...part of the reason why so many of them have a persecution complex.

Nintendos insistence to be different to a fault (much like apple) hurts their customers when it comes to game selection. Most people simply don't consider the console price worth it on top of the price for the few first parties they care to have. Nintendo Consoles are ultimately a bad investment.

Dude, if people want EA games, they are not gonna buy the Nintendo console, they'll buy another home console. NOBODY is gonna buy a Switch and say to themselves "I can't wait for EA to release games on this". I'm laughing just typing it. Its not that EA games are the worst thing on earth, its just that they are clearly established on other systems.

Besides, with the Switch's "N64 graphical power", herr derr, it won't be able to handle any other EA games.

I've finally come to the realization that Nintendo is doomed. Absolutely doomed. They just can't survive in this environment. The people want graphics. They want non-interactivity. They want A-list actors. They want escorted hallways, and they want set pieces. Nintendo has none of those things, and their upcoming demise is gonna be truly depressing.

The point majestically flying over your head is that most people aren't going to buy a Switch at all. If doesn't matter if YOU don't care. Lot's of people do, so Nintendo has sucessfully fucked itself over again for no real reason apart from chasing that Wii-Dragon.

"Most people aren't going to buy a Switch at all." I know man... I know.... (sniff)

 

[Tanis]

So a console that's basically last gen, with insane prices for anything that makes it completely functional...isn't getting the full EA treatment?

No shit.

The WiiU was a JOKE.

It lost me any trust I had left in Nintendo.

 

[FogHornG36]

I'm sure those controllers with 4 less buttons then every other console will really draw them in.

 

[Fox12]

Dear EA,
We do not want your crappy games on our shiny new system. You've already infected two other nice systems, and we'd like to keep this one clean.

Screw you.
Love,
Nintendo fans

Thats cute.

The same Fans some year after release "Why does everyone think the Switch sucks? It has like 10 Games and atleast 2 of those are Mario and Zelda, totally worth spending hundreds of dollars on and not just something for man-children willing to pay the Nintendo-Tax for their version of CoD."

It's amusing that people can't see the writing on the wall considering the Wii U went the same way. They must be in denial or something.

I really don't have to worry about it. EA has made it super clear in the past they they are not interested in Nintendo, like, at all. They will release this one game and then quit forever, and nobody will care.

You are confusing something here. YOU not caring is not EVERYBODY not caring. Most people don't voice their dissatisfaction with Nintendo Consoles and Third Parties...they simply don't buy the Console. That's why Nintendo Fanboys often find themselves in a losing battle to defend Nintendo's bad decisions...part of the reason why so many of them have a persecution complex.

Nintendos insistence to be different to a fault (much like apple) hurts their customers when it comes to game selection. Most people simply don't consider the console price worth it on top of the price for the few first parties they care to have. Nintendo Consoles are ultimately a bad investment.

Dude, if people want EA games, they are not gonna buy the Nintendo console, they'll buy another home console. NOBODY is gonna buy a Switch and say to themselves "I can't wait for EA to release games on this". I'm laughing just typing it. Its not that EA games are the worst thing on earth, its just that they are clearly established on other systems.

Besides, with the Switch's "N64 graphical power", herr derr, it won't be able to handle any other EA games.

I've finally come to the realization that Nintendo is doomed. Absolutely doomed. They just can't survive in this environment. The people want graphics. They want non-interactivity. They want A-list actors. They want escorted hallways, and they want set pieces. Nintendo has none of those things, and their upcoming demise is gonna be truly depressing.

The point majestically flying over your head is that most people aren't going to buy a Switch at all. If doesn't matter if YOU don't care. Lot's of people do, so Nintendo has sucessfully fucked itself over again for no real reason apart from chasing that Wii-Dragon.

"Most people aren't going to buy a Switch at all." I know man... I know.... (sniff)

Honestly, I feel like Nintendo died with Iwata. The new business guy seems like he's trying to chase Sony and Microsoft's coat tails. All of Nintendo's new anti-consumer nonsense probably started with him. Paid online subscriptions in return for one month game rentals? Mobile gaming? Nintendo's culture has been changing for the worse for a few months now.