EA in ‘not making games multiplayer-only’ shocker

An interview with Frank Gibeau on Develop seems to have worked parts of the internet up into something of a tizzy. Speaking about how EA titles such as Dead Space 2 have had multiplayer inserted into them – when the original was very much a game that didn’t seem to suit MP – is something that will continue. Gibeau said:

“I volunteer you to speak to EA’s studio heads; they’ll tell you the same thing. They’re very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay – be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services – as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours-and you’re out. I think that model is finished.

Online is where the innovation, and the action, is at.”

Now that’s actually quite a scary thought – an EA that no longer makes games for the single-player market and instead focuses on an increasingly over-competitive, offensive and generally unwelcoming world of online gaming. But if you just look at that quote, you miss the other stuff he said. Namely:

“It’s not only about multiplayer, it’s about being connected. I firmly believe that the way the products we have are going they, need to be connected online. Multiplayer is one form of that.”

So, err, yeah – he’s not saying every single EA game will be online-only in the future. Stop throwing paddys please, some parts of the internet.