EA expects two more years of cross-gen game releases

For gamers that refuse to jump into the next-gen, there's good news: EA expects that the "cross-gen" period to last for the next two years.

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While many gamers will undoubtedly flock to the new-generation consoles launching later this year, many gamers will probably sit back and continue to enjoy their PS3s and Xbox 360s. Why? Because so many titles are still releasing for these aging platforms.

In fact, many games this holiday season are launching on two generations: Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Battlefield 4 are just a handful of titles that are launching across two generations. For gamers that refuse to jump into the next-gen, there's good news: EA expects this "cross-gen" period to last for the next two years.

"Historically the first year out most titles have been cross-gen, then the second year there's less and less, but in year three you'll probably see everything apart from maybe one or two games in the industry on that end," EA's Patrick Soderlund told CVG. "So I think it will take about 18 to 24 months to get to full gen 4." (Note: EA refers to the next generation as gen 4, not gen 8 as it is commonly referred to.)

EA had previously promised to support the current generation for "many many years" to come. Apparently, that translates to two.

There are some titles that are destined for next-gen only, Soderlund says, pointing out that the next-gen will be the first to power "meaningful and realistic dialogue with characters." An example he gives is the upcoming Mirror's Edge reboot. "The interesting part is that it was a game that could only be built in gen 4 and that was cool. I liked that because what they're doing, it's not possible on the current generation."

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 24, 2013 11:00 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, EA expects two more years of cross-gen game releases.

    For gamers that refuse to jump into the next-gen, there's good news: EA expects that the "cross-gen" period to last for the next two years.

    • reply
      June 24, 2013 11:11 AM

      Makes sense. No hardware cycle has lasted as long as this one. I'd bet most Xbox 360 and PS3 owners don't want to give up their consoles, even if they move to next-gen right away, because there are more games coming for the current-gen. GTA 5 hits in September, and most people will have barely scratched the surface come November when PS4 and X1 roll out.

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        June 24, 2013 11:13 AM

        other than graphics, i can't see there being much of a difference between previous and current-gen versions of most titles for the first year.

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          June 24, 2013 11:15 AM

          Exactly, and probably the second year as well. There are over, what 160 million PS3s and 360s in homes? No publisher would want to abandon such a massive user base right away, particularly because those units sold over several years. It will take quite some time for PS4 and X1 to hit that level of adoption.

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          June 24, 2013 11:24 AM

          Not quiet, With all the mem there is a tone more you can do now and load up exploit and make larger and more complicated game worlds and do a lot more cool stuff.

          I guess the big question is will devs bother and just juice up the graphics and call it a day.

          Who knows?

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            June 24, 2013 11:27 AM

            that's my point. of course the new systems are vastly more powerful, but there are like 200 million current gen consoles out there, so do they really want to develop two versions, or just fancy up the release for the new hardware and call it a day?

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              June 24, 2013 11:48 AM

              Synced, yeah your totally right I am sure they will just juice it up graphically.

              I guess the problem is if they unleash the hounds on the new rigs you would start to make new gameplay and designs in your games that would not be possible on the old ones.

              Then you get into your beef, now we have to make two different games.

              A suppose a good engine could some how scale out that stuff but it would not be easy.

              :( shame

        • reply
          June 24, 2013 11:55 AM

          IIRC that the PS2 was still having games produced until last year.

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            June 24, 2013 12:00 PM

            There's one more coming this year! FIFA 14!
            I'm sure EA will sell all 50 copies they're producing.

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              June 24, 2013 4:02 PM

              The PS2 launched in Brazil in 2009, so there's still a significant FIFA-fanatic PS2 userbase.

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          June 24, 2013 1:19 PM

          sports games would really benefit from going fully next gen for physics and stuff

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      June 24, 2013 1:24 PM

      Going to have to buy a current gen hockey game. Won't be one for the new consoles on launch.

    • reply
      June 24, 2013 3:17 PM

      will still depend on sales, but 2 is fair

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