EA Not Willing to Take the Plunge Until the Results are In Regarding Nintendo’s Latest Console
According to a report from USGamer, EA is not yet ready to fully commit to supporting the Nintendo Switch.
While FIFA has been chosen to represent the company on Nintendo’s newest console, the move is all about minimizing calculated risk. FIFA carries the greatest level of recognition and market appeal, thus ensuring the highest level of success on an untested system like the Switch. Patrick Soderlund, EA’s vice president, assured consumers that EA’s presence on the Switch is guaranteed “once the platform launches and takes off.”
This news could be a strike against the Switch’s success at launch. On the one hand, FIFA is an enormous brand that comes with some truly impressive sales figures. If the Switch is going to get any sports franchise, they could do a lot worse than FIFA. On the other hand, the Switch would be missing out on a lot of powerhouse IPs if EA refuses to further invest in the Nintendo console. Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Battlefield and Madden are all heavy-hitting franchises that comprise a fraction of the company’s library. To that end, it’s in Nintendo’s best interest to have FIFA figure prominently in their Switch advertising campaigns.
EA pledged a similar amount of support for the Wii U. Unfortunately, Wii U game sales only made up “1.3 percent of EA’s software revenue” for one quarter. If the Switch delivers them similar results, we might not see more than the one EA game for the Switch.
FIFA 17 will be out for the Nintendo Switch later this year.
SOURCE: USGamer