EA Might Stop Annual FIFA Or Madden Releases

EA launches new iterations of its flagship sports titles like FIFA or Madden every year but it seems like the company is thinking about moving away from this model. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has now discussed the possibility of EA ditching annual releases for its sports franchises. It’s not something that EA is doing immediately but it’s not taking the option off of the table either.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in an interview with Bloomberg that it’s possible that the company might not release new versions of its FIFA and Madden titles annually in the future. It will rely on online updates or subscriptions to deliver updates instead.

The idea makes sense, given that these annual updates don’t always bring major changes. Often they just add minor gameplay tweaks and roster updates yet fans have to pay the full price for the title because it’s technically “new.”

“There’s a world where it gets easier and easier to move that code around — where we may not have to do an annual release,” Wilson said, adding that “We can really think about those games as a 365-day, live service.”

Wilson points out that the major shift toward internet content has opened up this possibility for these titles as well. As game sales shift from physical discs to digital downloads, it makes sense to treat these games as digital services.

“There’s a world not too far away from now where video games move from being a discrete, conscious experience to an indiscreet, subconscious experience,” Wilson said.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Gaming
Tags: EA