Microsoft rumoured to have secured some sort of EA exclusivity deal

NewsPublish Date 27/02/2013 - 11:34am GMT

Likely to be DLC or limited time exclusives.

EA and Microsoft have entered into a partnership which will bring exclusive EA content to the next Xbox, two sources have revealed to CVG.

Whilst the specifics of the deal remain unclear, it is believed exclusive downloadable content or staggered release dates for titles are most likely. The idea that EA would release one of its titles exclusively on the next Xbox seems too far-fetched.

One source claimed the deal involves Battlefield 4, while the other points to Respawn Entertainment.

EA didn't feature in Sony's PS4 announcement conference, but has since confirmed its plans to support the platform.

"At the end of the day we are very excited about Sony's platform. We feel there's a huge opportunity there. The technical power on the platform is going to allow us to do a substantial amount of things that have never been done before," said EA CFO Blake Jorgensen at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference earlier this week.

VideoGamer.com Analysis

Microsoft's rumoured April reveal of the next Xbox would be a great platform from which EA could reveal some of its next generation titles.

Imagine if the next Xbox was the only place you could play next generation titles from EA during the launch period.

Source: CVG

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MstarC

RESPAWN!
Sorry, I'm more interested in an amazing Battlefield 4 game than an unknown from Respawn...
Unless they make COD 4 again lol

Posted 19:56 on 01 March 2013

s_h_a_d_o @ Karlius

"I don't say EA are the most ethical of companies either but all they are trying to do is make a buck."
No... all they are trying to do is make more bucks.
;)

Posted 03:45 on 28 February 2013

tvr77 @ Karlius

Of cause it is but we don't have to like/agree with it. My gripe was with Rockstar not MS anyway. Fairplay to MS.

Posted 17:44 on 27 February 2013

Karlius @ tvr77

I know you may well of been peaved but the deal had MS desired effect. If you want something that badly you'll get it that's what this deal is all about.

Posted 16:06 on 27 February 2013

tvr77 @ Karlius

I get what your saying but i just remember being p***ed the first time one of these deals effected me. It was when Rockstar did it with GTA IV you could only get the two expansion packs on Xbox, so it was either wait or get an Xbox. I did both in the end but i was still pi**ed, i remember shouting at the TV "WTF" when the advert came on and at the end it said "only on Xbox"

Posted 15:55 on 27 February 2013

Karlius @ tvr77

But that isn't abandoning it's simply making a buzz. You will undoubtedly be able to play the DLC on the other console at some point. I don't say EA are the most ethical of companies either but all they are trying to do is make a buck. With the way the world is at the moment guaranteed income is far more precious than potential income.

However I don't see that there will be much income from the deal my thought is that MS will now advertise the deal promoting the fact it has DLC rights.

This will not only boost sales for EA on MS Console but also on Sony or any other because any advertisement is good. When I saw the exclusive PS content for the original Assassins Creed I didn't feel the need to rush out and buy a Playstation however I did buy the game,

Posted 15:21 on 27 February 2013

tvr77

My comment was aimed at EA, i don't think Sony or Microsoft are doing anything wrong but trying to make there platform more unique.
I just think its wrong that EA would abandon half of there customers who are invested in there games just because Xbox are offering stacks of cash.

Posted 15:05 on 27 February 2013

EverTheOptimist

I think, as well, it's because we already know it can't be something crazy because of EA's relationship with other platforms, as someone above rightly pointed out.

Still, it's good to be wary of companies anyway. I'm not saying exclusivity has an evil motive, but people definitely need to be more aware of what goes on under their noses and question what's behind it, which I think is what FM was trying to say about Fifa 12/13.

Posted 14:57 on 27 February 2013

Karlius

That analogy was not posted toward the main just the odd couple of ridiculous ££££ posts or I'm now getting a PS4 cause of morals. My point is that anything that sets something apart is a coup, it is part of the business and was a big deal for Sony when they brokered a similar deal for Battlefield 3. Can't remember Battlefield 3 being blocked on 360 though?

As with you EverTheOptimist I am not too bothered about DLC unless it's a massive game that I want to invest in.

Posted 14:50 on 27 February 2013

EverTheOptimist

Yeah I think there's been a bit of a misunderstanding here. I'm fairly sure we know what 'exclusivity' means and that a deal has been brokered to achieve that without a patronising supermarket-based analogy

I was just saying that exclusives rarely appeal to me when it comes to video games, and they won't heavily increase the odds of me buying one console or the other.

Exclusives can be a good thing, but they can also be pointless and uninteresting to me. If EA released a game on the next Xbox a month before it hit the PS4, it's just not a big deal. Neither is free DLC as I never download or play it for any game. Those kind of things don't really do anything for me.

Posted 14:40 on 27 February 2013

Karlius @ dav2612

I think it depends on the game. The deal with activision for COD has a massive pull for potential purchasers so if it's a deal for respawn it could potentially have that sort of pull depending on the take up.

Posted 14:01 on 27 February 2013

dav2612

Out of curiosity, is exclusive EA DLC (timed or otherwise), enough to lure you towards the next MS console? I don't tend to bother with DLC so it plays no part in my thinking but interested to know what others think.

Posted 13:53 on 27 February 2013

MJTH

@ Karlius and Endless, my rant was more to do with the way Microsoft handles the exclusivity deals, rather the deals themselves. In the end sarcastic remarks aside it's fair enough for Microsoft to use their piles of cash to set up exclusivity in order to make their platform(s) the most appealing. All the platform holders do it in the end.

I can't really speak for everyone, but I think many of the comments, were less about anger towards this deal, and more about whether this deal will actual appeal to them in the end. My comment was along the lines of about how Microsoft are willing to make deals like this, but will most likely blacklist most companies/ games that do the same with their rival platform, ie not in their favour.

In the end the big three are all allowed to do things like this, but consumers, especially in this interesting entertainment industry, are allowed to feel unhappy if said deal negatively effects them.

Posted 13:33 on 27 February 2013

dav2612

They also pulled the same trick with FIFA 13 on the Vita.

Posted 13:31 on 27 February 2013

Karlius @ FantasyMeister

I think that's fair enough. As for the Fifa on Wii thing. Fifa on Wii isn't that like playing Fifa on a Gamecube? Still doesn't warrant a lack of progression however some of the more difficult algorithms on playstation and xbox may not be possible on Wii. Never realised that Fantasy cheers for enlightening me!

Posted 13:28 on 27 February 2013

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