C&VG Rumor: Microsoft to reveal EA partnership at Next Xbox event

[Mavrick]

Why is this in the PlayStation forum you might ask. Well this has about as much reasson to be in here as it does in all the other gaming forums. How does this deal benefit gamers, or the industry as a whole?

This type of thing should not exist in gaming. And the fact that a former xbox exec is second in command at EA stinks.

What does this mean for Nintendo and Sony? Should we as gamers have to put up with this type of crap just because we don't own or want an xbox?

This is like their deal with Activision for exclusive early content for Call of Duty, except now it's every single game from an entire company, and not just any old company but one of the biggest in the Games industry.

Tell me I'm mad for being bothered by this? Because I really wish I didn't care, but I can't help feeling ever so slightly pissed off.

As the industry prepares for a highly anticipated Microsoft press conference in which it will showcase a new console for the first time in eight years, publisher Electronic Arts is preparing to step on stage to announce a key exclusivity agreement.

Peter Moore, a former Xbox executive, is now second-in-command at EA CVG has learned that EA has secured a partnership with the Xbox firm, according to accounts from two sources who wished to remain anonymous. However, neither person was certain of what EA will show, nor what the terms of the exclusivity partnership will be.

Due to the necessities of multiplatform development and publishing, it is likely that such a partnership will not extend beyond exclusive downloadable content, or staggered release dates. An outright exclusive EA game on the Next Xbox would be unlikely, and certainly a major coup for Microsoft if such a deal were to be secured.

Last Wednesday, rival publisher Activision announced a key partnership with Sony which will result in - among other business obligations - exclusive add-on content for the PS4 edition of Destiny.

While other major publishers, from Ubisoft to Square Enix to Capcom, also spoke at Sony's PS4 showcase, EA did not participate.

Both industry sources had different speculation on what the EA partnership would be. One claimed it might be Battlefield 4, while the other suspected that Respawn Entertainment will make a surprise appearance. Neither person works for EA or Microsoft, and so could not confirm the terms of the deal.

However, EA's chief financial officer hinted at such a deal on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, CFO Blake Jorgensen was asked why Electronic Arts did not appear at the PlayStation 4 press conference.

"It was more about timing of our own slate as well as trying to maintain a good balance of power with all the parties out there and choosing when to unveil certain pieces of software," he replied.

Jorgensen added: "I'd say, between now and E3, you are going to see a lot of stuff, and we are going to chose with our marketing teams when to announce."

But he clarified that EA was clearly going to support the PlayStation 4 platform.

"At the end of the day we are very excited about Sony's platform. We feel there's a huge opportunity there. The technical power on the platform is going to allow us to do a substantial amount of things that have never been done before.

"I have seen the new Battlefield, and it is just stunning. It is just amazing what the imagination of the game developers [at DICE] are allowed to do with that much power."

It has become a growing expectation in the industry that Microsoft will announce its next-generation Xbox platform at a special one-off event in late April.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...xt-xbox-event/

[xtop]

it could literally amount to exclusive dlc. no need to get angry yet

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by xtop

it could literally amount to exclusive dlc. no need to get angry yet

I even assumed as much in my post, thats the reasson I'm angry.

Everyone is quick enough to complain about retailer exclusive dlc for pre orders and CoD dlc first on xbox. This news should be pissing a whole bunch of people off.

[A Sith Lord?]

EA would be crazy to stop making games on Nintendo and Wii, especially sports.

I could see how they could do something since people actually pay for Live, whereas Wii and PSN are free. Maybe offer some extra perks for being on XBLive

[Walter E Kurtz]

Soooo xbox is getting exclusive EA DLC?

[GeneticMutation]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

I even assumed as much in my post, thats the reasson I'm angry.

Everyone is quick enough to complain about retailer exclusive dlc for pre orders and CoD dlc first on xbox. This news should be pissing a whole bunch of people off.

It probably is but why stir it up for no reason? This doesn't really bother me but that's my opinion and I'm sure there will be many more but there's no need to get emotional over it!

[NARMAK]

EA are the dirtiest games company that deals on all formats. Activision is a distant second in that respect. I wouldn't be suprised if somehow all EA releases didn't just have exclusive DLC first on Nxt Box, but also first release dates for multiplatform titles.

All of course paid for by M$ again to 'compete' with Sony and the fact developers have all flocked back to the console darling. The fact Peter Moore is there in the position he is in also wouldn't suprise me if he influenced this decision to go through

But i digress, we must wait till we hear officially. But doesn't sound good considering all rumours we seem to hear are accurate to a large degree.

[hellmonkey]

So this sounds like the same thing as Acti giving Sony exclusive content for Destiny? Did you freak out when that was announced? I hate the whole DLC thing, especially day 1 content. For $60 fkn dollars, I want a complete game. Map packs for Killzone and Warhawk, tracks and cars for GT5, and LBP costumes (like 2 or 3)/tools are the only DLC Ive ever bought.

[Walter E Kurtz]

And gta 4 exclusive content for 360

Peter moores again wasnt it?

Dirty

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

So this sounds like the same thing as Acti giving Sony exclusive content for Destiny? Did you freak out when that was announced? I hate the whole DLC thing, especially day 1 content. For $60 fkn dollars, I want a complete game. Map packs for Killzone and Warhawk, tracks and cars for GT5, and LBP costumes (like 2 or 3)/tools are the only DLC Ive ever bought.

I've always been against exclusive DLC regardless of who has it. Unlike some people I'm not a fanboy, and I don't have a false sense of Brand Loyalty. DLC should be for everyone, gamers shouldn't have to be made to feel like they aren't going to get the most out of the game unless they choose a certain platform.

I'm not even a huge fan of DLC in the first place, but I am a fan of games and the industry, and this is just a real shitty move.

[Taipan]

Meh. Doesn't affect me in any way shape or form. But then, my life isn't run by video games.

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by Walter E Kurtz

And gta 4 exclusive content for 360

Peter moores again wasnt it?

Dirty

I expect Respawn Entertainments new game will be pushed heavily with exclusive DLC to try and counter the Sony/Destiny exclusive stuff.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

So this sounds like the same thing as Acti giving Sony exclusive content for Destiny? Did you freak out when that was announced? I hate the whole DLC thing, especially day 1 content. For $60 fkn dollars, I want a complete game. Map packs for Killzone and Warhawk, tracks and cars for GT5, and LBP costumes (like 2 or 3)/tools are the only DLC Ive ever bought.

You either don't understand the possible implications of a whole EA games portfolio having exclusive and early releases on Nxt Box or you're trying to troll.

I don't mind 'early exclusive DLC' as long as people like Sony and MS don't pay for it. More that they're offered it as a kind gesture from a business perspective.

MS are notorious for buying content. Sony on the other hand i don't believe has ever publicly been outed for buying DLC etc. In fact, it's cause there such a great company to work with that they have built trust.

If i treat MS with contempt and disgust, it's because they've worked hard and long to earn it. They also earned it with Windows and now are getting their come uppance with Google and iOS platforms starting to bite into their pie.

If they were such a great company, i'd like them more and you can bet your dollar that if Sony launches initiatives that are dirty and profiteering at the expense of consumers, i'll also call them up on that crap.

I'm not 'brand loyal' like i might seem. I'm value loyal in terms of who offers me the best package for the best price.

[Maximus]

This article cites two sources, neither of which is at EA or Microsoft. Then talks about a conference last night (which I was listening to) which hinted at a deal, I heard no such hints. In fact last night EA confirmed Battlefield 4 and FIFA 14 as in development for PS4.

Chances are the article is just rubbish. EA and Sony have always been very close historically, I have not heard that their relationship has changed. In fact they are closer than ever, collaborating on Vita and PS4 launch projects which was not the case for PS3.

[SirMontyPython]

Usually it's these kinds of "rumors" that eventually rear its ugly head, and that said rumors are going to be accurately true...speculation aside I'm just sick of these kinds of deals. It just ruins it for everyone!

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

For $60 fkn dollars, I want a complete game.

It might be $70 next gen.

[xtop]

if you guys want to hate ea, here's the reason

http://www.oxm.co.uk/50616/ea-all-ou...-transactions/

All future EA releases will support micro-transactions, chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen has told audiences at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, via Develop.

[Elandyll]

However hard EA pushes one way toward MS, it will just push Activision to push equally hard in the opposite way with Sony...
(I suspect that EA getting close to MS or Sony getting cozy with Activision -whichever came first behind closed doors- initiated the opposite reaction).

I do not expect much more than timed exclusive DLC, same thing with Activision/ Sony (and with the popularity of CoD, MS might not want to go "that" far under the sheets with EA anyway.

[ezcobar411]

I tend to find this to be a bit overblown. I can see exclusive DLC (something that I think should die). I just don't think EA would do anything that would hurt the overall revenue and profit margin of the company by eliminating a console base.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by xtop

if you guys want to hate ea, here's the reason

http://www.oxm.co.uk/50616/ea-all-ou...-transactions/

I won't hate them for using micro-transactions, because i understand that with inflation etc rising, these guys need ways to increase their RoI while having to keep prices the same.

The issue comes into the way they implement such systems by EA notoriously holding stuff behind a paywall that should have been free from the start and i guess many others.

They're shafting consumers