Many were wondering why there was absolutely no presence from EA – who already have next-gen games running – at Sony’s PlayStation 4 reveal event. It seems that the answer might be that they’re sleeping with the enemy; Microsoft, to be specific. According to CVG, Microsoft and EA will announce a partnership at Nextbox’s reveal event, rumoured to be happening in April.
While the exact details of the partnership aren’t available, CVG’s spies say it’ll relate to a bunch of exclusivity deals – that include entire games with staggered release dates, or more likely given EA’s penchant for releasing their games on just about every platform imaginable, timed DLC exclusivity.
If this is true, it’s a terribly way for the company to ensure people flock to their console – and it wouldn’t really surprise me. While Sony’s been focused on developing new IP, Microsoft’s historically employed the tactic of just buying it.
Last Updated: February 27, 2013
Trebzz
February 27, 2013 at 13:35
It will be like Mass Effect all over again 😛
OVG
February 27, 2013 at 13:39
Cant believe Microsoft sold it off.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:51
Yeah, I never understood why they let the publishing rights lapse… :/
OVG
February 27, 2013 at 13:54
They did get a billion when they sold them to EA to help with the 3billion 3 year warranty.
But I must admit that Microsoft had some shit hot exclusives in 2007-2009.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:55
And then they shifted their attention to Eye Toy… :/
OVG
February 27, 2013 at 14:04
IT WAS PETER MOLYNEUX AND HIS LITTLE BRAT MILO…Arghhhhh TECH DEMOS thats all we have had this gen. Im tired of these smart ass entrepreneurs jumping on the band wagon and taking the wooooooos of amazed laymen a sign to green light this shit.
Like Horse Armor I blame the iPhone and all the cool Lemmings threw their money at the shit. Nintendo just copied and even went so far as to use the vowel i and use white casing…IT WORKED and beat out SONY and Micropants with a kick in the tera flops.
At least SONY went…Fcuk it lets get back to our core gamers and ignore the MOVE.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:07
Peter really did a number on them, but I guess they (MS) didn’t know that Molyneux is two-parts shit and one-part water. Had they listened to the gamers and their moans… this world might have been Kinect-free by now.
OVG
February 27, 2013 at 13:36
Interesting, now its starting to hot up. Money talks while gamers walk. That GTAIV timed exclusive DLC did nothing but ruin it for gamers. I still have no clue what Gay Tony is about and lost interest and I own an XBOX.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:46
I thought Gay Tony was about a guy who wanted to own his own McDonalds franchise….
OVG
February 27, 2013 at 13:48
me to :p
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:52
All I can remember from Gay Tony: candid penis cam and explosions. What an odd expac that was.
OVG
February 27, 2013 at 13:56
SOLD:)
mornelithe
February 27, 2013 at 19:58
Oh come on….Gay Tony had the FN P90, the M249 SAW, Atchisson Assault Shotgun, the .44 Auto Mag, DSR-1 Sniper Rifle, satchel charges, new sports cars, the Buzzard, Skylift, AND the Parachute woooo. All it was missing for the easiest ‘collecting’ experience was the Jet Pack
The Crying Dutchman
February 27, 2013 at 13:38
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sir Captain Rincethis
February 27, 2013 at 13:41
Header win. And if this is true, wow. Microsoft is clever. Instead of actually, you know, CREATING something, they get someone else to. I think it’s a cheap method and looks like my savings will be heading to PS4 (just need to get those obligatory 3 other jobs now).
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
February 27, 2013 at 13:44
War. War never changes. The Romans waged war to gather slaves and wealth. Spain built an empire from its lust for gold and territory. Microsoft bought the developers to ensure total control….
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:53
Assuming Direct CONTROL!! So essentially Microsoft is a reaper and Sony is an Asari?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
February 27, 2013 at 14:06
Whahahaha
Kobus Nel
February 27, 2013 at 16:06
Control? They built their own controllers with their lame consoles, they can go play with those. *in Gollum voice* “Filthy Microsoftses”
Admiral Chief Erwin
February 27, 2013 at 13:44
dum dum DUUUUUUUUUUUM!!!
Theo Steenekamp
February 27, 2013 at 13:49
Here’s a like to balance out the comment;)
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:45
I doubt it’s true exclusivity, EA is too greedy for that, but it sounds like MS is up to it’s old tricks again.
Instead of actually delivering games, Microsoft is rather going the tired timed exclusivity route again. Seriously, can a company be even more retarded? Instead of PAYING companies for timed-exclusivity, why don’t they DEVELOP GAMES for the XBOX 720?
Theo Steenekamp
February 27, 2013 at 13:45
This makes me think… What does Xbox have what PS4 wont have? for a company like EA to sign such a deal with Microsoft and move away from the giant in the industry… April will be a fun filled month.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:00
Kinect 2.0 and Usher!
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:02
But apparently EA has already tweeted to say that they’re not going to be exclusive to the xbox. It really wouldn’t make sense for them to give up on more revenue.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:12
Correction: It wasn’t EA but rather Rob from CVG – https://twitter.com/Rob_Crossley_/status/306713852924547073
umar bastra
February 27, 2013 at 14:04
well they have……money
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:10
500 million alone was spent on pushing Kinect…
umar bastra
February 27, 2013 at 14:26
MS is pretty baller … so hey … comes as no surprise.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:31
BLURRY NUDE SIMS? 240MS points!! PAY NOW!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
February 27, 2013 at 14:06
Money. Lots and lots and lots of money
mornelithe
February 27, 2013 at 19:54
Xbox has Microsoft as a parent company, which has a vast vast surplus of cash to spend on timed exclusive deals. That’s what the Xbox has over the PS4.
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 13:49
It’s going to funny if EA had a chance to beat Activision next gen, but timed-exclusivity screws up their plans and instead PS4 gamers boycott Battlefield 4 in droves. Instead, in walks Call of Duty BLOPSMW1234566790… same old tired engine from 10 years ago, and wins the sales.
That would be the most awesome middle finger to EA ever…
mornelithe
February 27, 2013 at 19:52
Yep, that’s the reality. I never buy games that play with timed exclusivity. Unlike most gamer’s, I actually take a stand with my wallet.
Mathias
February 27, 2013 at 14:07
What new IP?
umar bastra
February 27, 2013 at 14:12
So..Don’t you find it funny that, just recently EA had lay offs and now they PARTNERING with Microsoft? …. I smell a conspiracy!! Is EA having money problems???
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:19
You know, you might be onto something…. wouldn’t it be funny if EA went under, and Microsoft bought them? HAHAHAA Sims as XBL avatars!!
umar bastra
February 27, 2013 at 14:26
lol a blurry nude person as an avatar !
Mathias
February 27, 2013 at 14:15
This only means EA has some titles that will be exclusive to M$, nothing more.
Xelus
February 27, 2013 at 14:19
Lovely so this means that we’ll be seeing most likely more console games than PC platform games. I hate microsoft
Banana Jim
February 27, 2013 at 14:20
But consoles > PC #UnwashedMassesStormedTheBastille
The Lying Dutchman
February 27, 2013 at 15:15
Banana Jim > Xelus #LOL
Mathias
February 27, 2013 at 14:27
*Playing Crysis 3*
*ALT+TAB*
*Reads*
*Laughs histerically*
*ALT+TAB*
Oh, these console children
Azure
February 27, 2013 at 21:56
Funny… When I A:T+Tab on my PC, I can’t get back to playing Crysis 3… Im running a GTX 590 and an i7 3770K… Stop BSing and acting like PC is so superior… Even with my setup, I still have a PS3 to play all exclusives… Ni No Kuni, GOW… EVEN TEKKEN!!!
PC has the power… But we only get the Multiplats… 🙁 Sadly…
Willem Swanepoel
February 27, 2013 at 22:59
PLEASE do not tell me that you have bought an i7 for gaming … if you did then yeah I r trol laughing my ass off 😉
Mathias
February 28, 2013 at 10:40
I have my consoles to play the exclusives as well… I just don’t care about the console wars.
And is it my fault that you bought that hardware? Go get more decent stuff to ALT+TAB away!
Tbone187
February 28, 2013 at 09:13
Game changer of note…Playstation will fizzle out if this happens…
Doe
March 3, 2013 at 19:16
Reason Microcock ALWAYS has and ALWAYS will suck c0ck!
Plamf
March 6, 2013 at 01:02
This is a bad idea, bungie learned from this mistake. But microshaft and EA are as bad as each other, almost a perfect couple. Prepare for over marketed rushed yearly sequel games out to eat wallets