Next Generation Consoles Aren't Needed to Drive Innovation, EA Says

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello has talked about the next generation of video game consoles and emphasized that they aren't really needed in order to jumpstart creativity in the industry.

Lots of people are talking about the new generation of hardware consoles, especially since Nintendo has already revealed its new device, the Wii U, which will replace the current Wii next year.

The other two large hardware manufacturers, Sony and Microsoft, are also rumored to be working on devices like the PlayStation 4 or Xbox 720, respectively, even if they formally refrain from commenting on such things.

According to statements from industry leaders, including Ubisoft's Yves Guillemot, new devices are more than welcome, as they would certainly help increase creativity.

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello chimed in on this subject, as he believes that a new batch of devices aren't really needed in order to push the industry forward

"There's never 'enough' innovation and we should always be setting the bar higher," he told IndustryGamers. "What I don't agree with is the implication that we're waiting for the hardware guys to transition to help us realize the innovation.

Riccitiello once again emphasizes that cross-platform experiences are the future, as publishers need to stop focusing on launching regular games, that don't offer anything else besides what's on the disc.

"I think the greatest innovation in the history of gaming is occurring right now. It is happening in the cross-platform arena — where Publishers are linking the best IP from console to PC to mobile to social. This is hard to do, but it will change the way gamers interact with our IP. Five years ago, I said that the industry had been making the same five games over and over.

"That [annoyed] some people off – but it was true. Since then we’ve seen an explosion of quality and creativity from publishers like Take Two, Ubi and EA. On top of that, we’ve got to acknowledge that platform partners like Nintendo, Facebook and Apple have given us enormous new canvases to work on."