EA commits to next-gen consoles… but dismisses single player experiences

EA Labels president Frank Gibeau has promised that EA will not abandon console publishing in the hunt for social and casual success.

We think EA is better positioned for success, and for serving consumers than other companies that are marooned on one platform,” he says in the brochure for the Cloud Gaming USA Conference and Exhibition.

The investments we’ve made in mobile, social, and in creating a platform that connects consumers across multiple devices is going to allow us to provide a much better experience for game players.

For all the investments we’ve made in mobile and social, we never abandoned consoles. We are working closely with the console manufacturers and we are VERY excited about the Gen4 consoles that will be launched in the months and years ahead.”

However, consumers may find it more surprising to hear Gibeau’s feelings on single-player experiences, which he believes have no part in the future console gaming landscape.

We are very proud of the way EA evolved with consumers,” he added. I have not green lit one game to be developed as a single player experience.

Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365. One of our biggest growth opportunities is Play4Free titles that allow customers to play at no cost and make purchases via microtransactions. We see this as a huge opportunity, and one that’s powered by our hybrid cloud model.”

Fans of Batman: Arkham City and Skyrim may not agree.