EA on NX – “will evaluate any and all opportunities” when it comes to Nintendo
EA and Nintendo have had somewhat of a rough relationship over the past few years. During the Wii U’s E3 unveiling a few years back, you may recall that now former CEO John Riccitiello came on stage to pledge the company’s support for the console. Ultimately, we ended up with Mass Effect 3, FIFA 13, and Madden NFL 13 at launch. Need for Speed: Most Wanted U came a few months later, but EA’s support was pretty much over by the middle of 2013.
Now with NX, Nintendo has a new system on the horizon. Is that something EA could be interested in? Perhaps.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson was asked about the publisher’s resource management during its Q2 2016 earnings call earlier this week. In response, he said:
As we look to the future, we see a world where more people are playing on more platforms in more geographies then ever before. We see the platform cycle now, not just as a traditional six-year console cycle, but as a six-month refresh rate on mobile devices, smart TV’s, Internet-enabled refrigerators, or whatever it might be.
And what we’re doing, in terms of resource allocation, is really investing at a core digital platform level, at an engine level, and at a game architecture level, to ensure that we are able to deliver amazing experiences: 6 inches to 60 inches, and beyond; two minutes to two hour session times, and beyond; across any and all relevant devices where gamers are playing.
And as it relates to Nintendo, we’ve had a tremendous relationship with them over the years. And we will evaluate any and all opportunities with them, in the same way we do all platform opportunities.
So there’s definitely not anything there in terms of a commitment, though EA appears to be leaving the door open. If nothing else, they seem to still value their relationship with Nintendo.
