14 DAY TRIAL // The reveal of the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6+ and the Apple Watch was one of the highlights of the week, but a recent statement from one executive at video game publisher Electronic Arts does suggest that the hype for the new devices has probably gone a little too far.
Frank Gibeau, who is at the moment the leader of the mobile game division at EA, is telling GamesIndustry.biz that the power of the new smartphones is equal to that of the Xbox One from Microsoft and the PlayStation 4 from Sony.
He states, “It was a good Christmas morning…We got a lot of the gifts we asked for. One key takeaway is that with the retina display and the improved processor, combined with the Metal capabilities and 128 GB of memory, that gets you to a device that’s on part with next-generation consoles. That’s moving perfectly into our strike zone.”
Just a quick look at the iPhone 6 and the current generation of home consoles shows that the comparison cannot be true, mainly because both the devices from Sony and Microsoft are specifically designed for gaming, while Apple phones need to deal with a range of other features.
iPhone 6 can be a boon for gaming
Apple has highlighted a number of developers who are working on titles for the iPhone 6 during its presentation, but we first need to see actual gameplay before any clear comparison can be made with home consoles like the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.
Frank Gibeau also believes that the variety on the mobile market can negatively impact player experiences because some devices have the power required for major AAA releases while others struggle to run them.
The executive also says that Electronic Arts is exploring the possibilities opened up by the new Apple-made Watch.
He adds, “Wearables could be the future gaming platforms. Look at Oculus, Google Glass, Apple Watch, Samsung’s announcement last week. There are unique functions and ways to interact with these devices that open up a new platform.”
The focus stays on Xbox One and PlayStation 4
At the moment, the publisher continues to be focused on its traditional moneymakers, sports-based series like FIFA and Madden NFL, but its digital division has also recently reported big earnings.
The big threat from smartphones is to the PlayStation Vita and the Nintendo 3DS, which have been less successful than previous handheld generations.