14 DAY TRIAL // Frank Gibeau, the leader of the Labels division at publisher Electronic Arts, says that the next generation of tablets will be able to deliver the same amount of processing power as the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 home consoles.
This will allow developers to create video games for tablets that will offer the same graphical quality as on the current generation of home consoles.
The executive tells IGN that, “Some of our engine technology that used to be console-specific now can, with modifications, be able to power games on tablets and on phones in the near future. We’re just getting ready for that.”
Electronic Arts is preparing to create more than simple ports of its biggest hits and the teams linked to tablet and mobile development are planning to adapt all the core gameplay mechanics to the new medium.
Gibeau adds, “You have to re-architect it around touch, voice, camera. Our teams are having a lot of fun with that, reimagining an experience on a tablet using the same graphics and assets in some ways, but completely remixing the meal.”
The Electronic Arts executive has not offered any details on which franchises will get tablet versions in the coming years, but high-profile series like FIFA, Madden and Battlefield are all goods bets.
Presumably, they will use a modified version of the Frostbite 2 engine, while the newer third edition of the same technology is used to create titles for the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.
Recently, Ubisoft has also talked about tablets and about second screen experience as important for the success of the new generation of consoles.
Electronic Arts has had limited success with its social and mobile game launches in the last few years and has recently revealed that it no longer plans to deliver Facebook-based spin-offs for its biggest franchises.