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EA Sports Announces Ignite Engine; Strategic Partnership with Microsoft
As expected EA Sports held a prominent role at the Microsoft event to reveal the new Xbox One. Andrew Wilson appeared to discuss the next generation confirming Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, NBA Live 14, and UFC for the Xbox One.
The company also announced the “EA Sports Ignite” engine which will provide true player motion and living worlds. EA will also be discussing a “new broad, strategic partnership with Microsoft” in the near future – probably more on that at E3. FIFA 14 will be getting exclusive Ultimate Team content on Microsoft consoles but obviously the partnership will be going beyond that. Other potential exclusivity arrangements were not discussed.
A full trailer showed off the four upcoming sports games. As soon as that is available online it will be posted. Hopefully that won’t be the trailer that sets EA up for failure in the same way the Madden next-gen trailer in 2004 did. More on everything as the day progresses!
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Microsoft Announces Xbox One
Microsoft has just announced the Xbox One. The console includes quick switching between gaming, television, and other programs with voice control along with utilizing multiple applications at once. A partnership with the NFL will deliver games, fantasy experiences, social elements, and more. EA has a new “broad, strategic partnership with Microsoft” to discuss going forward. The system will release “later this year” and no price was announced. You can now sign up on Amazon to be notified when the Xbox One goes up for pre-order. The One will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games. Used games will require a purchased code in order to work on the One. Kinect will need to be plugged in for the system to operate. As additional info surfaces it will be added. Follow on Twitter for the latest.
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Madden NFL 25 Connected Franchise Detailed; Owner Mode and Requested Features Return
The transition from a standard Franchise mode to Connected Careers with Madden NFL 13 was widely enjoyed but also loudly opposed. Omitting features that segments of consumers were passionate about – many were patched in later but the damage had been done – and not being able to easily communicate the evolution of Franchise concepts made it a contentious situation for EA Sports to handle. Now with Madden NFL 25 the mode has been renamed Connected Franchise and a number of additions and improvements made with the hopes of satisfying those who took issue with the mode last year. Read more
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EA Sports UFC May Also Show Up at Microsoft Event
Earlier this morning FIFA 14 was confirmed to be shown at the Microsoft console reveal event tomorrow. Though it comes in less specific terms EA Sports seems to be confirming UFC to appear there as well. No word however has come on Madden or NBA Live yet.
The social media accounts for EA UFC are teasing the first news on the game – which we know won’t be releasing before April 2014 and likely to be only for the next generation consoles – to be out tomorrow. There is no way they’d be doing something independently which would be completely overshadowed by the Microsoft press event. It’s safe to say then it’ll also be shown or talked about to some extent along with FIFA.
That now multiple EA games will be at the Microsoft press conference will add even more fuel to the fire of exclusivity. There is clearly a strong relationship being cultivated heading into the next generation. The extent of what that means will be realized tomorrow.
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Next-Gen FIFA Making Appearance at Microsoft Console Reveal Event Tomorrow
There have been plenty of indications that EA would have a presence at the Microsoft press conference which is set for tomorrow to debut their new console. That has now been confirmed as FIFA 14 will be shown off at the event. Whether Madden and NBA Live will appear remains unknown – it’ll either happen there or at an E3 press conference on June 10.
The rumors over some form of exclusivity to Microsoft from EA continues to be an intriguing possibility but it would be hard to believe FIFA would fall under that scenario unless it was limited to extra content. If anything Sony has been the stronger partner for FIFA which is a juggernaut worldwide. Microsoft nabbing FIFA even just for this event however is a big move and indicates a closer relationship with EA than maybe Sony would prefer.
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Out of the Park Baseball 14 Impressions
The Out of the Park Baseball series has long been the gold standard of management simulations. Though the release of an iOS version the last couple years has led to some additional exposure OOTP has still relied on word-of-mouth over traditional marketing. That has allowed them to focus on doing one thing and doing it very well – appealing to the hardcore baseball or management fan – rather than diluting the product as most major titles are forced to do in order to reach the largest audience possible. Read more
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The Line Drive for May 19
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Remember to look out for the special Press Row Hangouts and Podcasts this coming week!
♦EA has ZERO games currently in development for the Wii U.
♦Description for WWE 2K14 at Amazon mentions The Rock and Bruno Sammartino.
♦EA Sports has posted a blog going into more on Madden NFL 25’s defensive improvements.
♦EA Sports has posted a blog going into more on NCAA Football 14’s Ultimate Team.
♦A special Press Row Podcast w/ Ben Haumiller about Ultimate Team in NCAA 14.
♦EA Sports has posted a blog going into more on NHL 14’s skating enhancements.
♦Tiger Woods (14) fell out of top 10 sales for April after charting 4th in 2012 and 5th in 2011.
♦Google is adding achievements and cloud saves to Android’s gaming platform.
♦The Mavericks are crowdsourcing for designs of their new uniforms.
♦Check out what the new Vikings stadium is going to look like.
♦ESPN rolled out a new NBA score bug today – expect to see it in NBA Live 14
♦Deal on Bioshock Infinite for today only $40 for 360/PS3 or $35 PC.News and content that may have been missed from the last week around the site.
♦DVD/Blu-ray Releases This Week. Headlined by Side Effects and True Blood: Season 5.
♦Arrested Development S4 Trailer. The series returns on Netflix May 26.
♦Theatrical Trailer for Pacific Rim. The robot vs aliens film will release on July 12.
♦Zombieland Series Dead. Amazon passes after poor reaction to pilot.
♦Trailer for Sleepy Hollow. TV series from the Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci duo.
♦Trailers for Agents of SHIELD. The Marvel series will air on ABC in the fall.
♦Trailer for Riddick. The third film in the franchise starring Vin Diesel. -
Madden Documentary Releasing August 27
Notable in the announcement of the Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition was nothing being included to celebrate the history of the franchise. For what is intended to mark a milestone anniversary that it contains nothing about the past or from it is certainly perplexing. Instead something that would have made perfect sense packed in is being sold separately. Read more
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