14 DAY TRIAL // Video game publisher Electronic Arts believes that in the near future all its core gaming franchises need to be turned into online universes, meaning that players should be able to enjoy them wherever they are, on whatever platform they like.
The franchises that are due to be expanded include: FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Battlefield, Medal of Honor and Star Wars.
Keith Ramsdale, who is the leader of the Electronic Arts division in charge of Northern Europe, spoke at the showcase for the company in the United Kingdom stating, “Imagine a player gets up in the morning, plays an online match on his 360 before going to work. On the bus, on his way to work, he practices his free kicks on his tablet. At lunch he looks at the transfer window on his PC. On the way home he chooses his kit on his smartphone.”
The executive went on to imagine a future where video game players will be able to have just one identity which can instantly shift between platforms, while preserving all his achievements and abilities.
He added, ”Here's the thing: when he gets home to play again on his 360 that evening, all those achievements and upgrades will be alive in his game. We're very focused on transforming all of our brands into these online universes. That gives the consumer full control of how and when they play in a rich world of content.”
The initial stages of the process are seen in the recent release of Mass Effect 3, the console and PC mix between action and role-playing, which also received a companion Facebook app and a mobile application that allowed gamers to contribute to their Galactic Readiness.
Rival publisher Activision is already doing something similar with the Call of Duty franchise with the Elite service.
EA has not offered precise plans for any of the core series that it has in development at the moment.