EA “exploring other products” for Switch, has to consider “player differences”
As of now, EA has just a single game lined up for Switch – that being FIFA 18. A big question going forward is how much the publisher will end up supporting Nintendo’s console.
EA executive VP of global publishing Laura Miele commented on bringing FIFA 18 to Switch and EA’s plans in general while speaking with GamesIndustry. EA is said to be “exploring other products” and “are looking at other IP and what the technology connections need to be for that.”
Miele mentioned:
“FIFA is the largest game in the business, so the offering and expansive footprint FIFA has around the globe will help connect Switch hardware to gamers as well. So I think it’s a strong mutual partnership with Nintendo. We love the mobility of the Switch and I think the content they’ve put out is really strong on it so far. We’re going to continue to watch how the hardware does. We are exploring other products. We are looking at other IP and what the technology connections need to be for that.”
Miele added that EA’s Switch support isn’t at all related to the technology within Switch. Although there are “technical differences” compared to other platforms, apparently the bigger thing to consider “are player differences.”
“There are technical differences, yes, but I think most importantly there are player differences. When you have a game you’re playing on the go, it’s a different interface, different experience, different features, and different flow I think, then it would be if you’re playing on the sticks in your living room on a TV. So that design consideration always has to be taking place for our players.
“We never want to do just a direct port of something; we want to have a meaningful experience on the hardware. So it’s tech and design and user flow that we’re considering as we’re looking at future titles.”
