EA Executive Clarifies Scope of Nintendo Switch Support, but is Cautious of Its Prospects

Hoping for Star Wars Battlefront 2, expecting late sports ports.

Uh oh. That doesn't sound like they are very committed to me.

"We'll support the system as long as it sells well" -EA and every other third-party developer

Wonder what they mean by bigger game?

There's nothing wrong with being cautious. I hope EA and other third party developers will at least give the Switch a fair try.

As long as they send over the next Need for Speed, then I'm happy. Anything else, I couldn't care less about.

I'm not interested in the portable aspect of Switch so he has a point there.

Don't care... I'm not interested in shooters or sports games, which are the majority of the games EA create, and are the most likely to be ported onto the Switch first.
If they do start to bring some of their other games to the Switch after a while, then I might consider them... but there's nothing of their's that I want in particular.

I don't remember the last time I bought an EA game.

Third party support drought, ahoy!

Stoke the great debate.

Third parties on Nintendo - nobody actually ever cared since 1995 but Nintendo fans will talk about it all day long! Lol

"people be interested"

I am going to assume that's a typo.

@ThomasBW84

"a game or two"

Yeah, they sound fully committed.

Should we just assume the 1 big game is FIFA, b/c that game would sell just about anywhere at any time at any price. I don't follow devs and publishers close enough to know who does what. Ubi does Just Dance, Activision does Skylanders and CoD (one of those is a given, 1 is not gonna happen), EA does sports, that's all I got. Oh, and Squenix does JRPG, I am expecting 1 or 2 of those big titles from either the FF or DQ games. Capcom does Monster Hunter, that should be a given.

EA. I know they bought Popcap so maybe the 1 big game will be Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 3? Splatoon showed Nintendo fans will support that type of game in a big way.

The Switch is a more powerful Wii U + 3DS combined that includes Wii tech... how can it possibly fail?

EA are dirt. They can start by giving Switch owners the Mass Effect Trilogy for free. We should have got it on Wii U.

Switch will get Mass Effect 4 for £50 a month after PS4 and Xone get all 4 games for £40

@Phin68 yup... sucks it does not make good business sense to put a bunch of games for a system that could flop, and the last games the system has early the more chances has a flopping LOL, it's a bad chicken in the egg thing.

Yikes, at least with the Wii U third-party devs waited till the actual launch before they started walking back support. As the furor over the machine dies down, which it was inevitably going to, I expect to see more equivocating like this from others. Based on the technical specs that have been teased or rumoured thus far, as well as the cost, this console will not be a competitor to the PS4, PS4Pro or Scorpio. It MIGHT be to the XBONE is docked mode.

I'm just hoping for Mass Effect: Andromeda. Outside of Bioware (and maybe Titanfall), I wouldn't buy an EA game for any system.

He's a bit of a Negative Nanny considering...HOW STOKED I AM FOR NINTENDO SWITCH!

Want: Titanfall 2 and Mass Effect Andromeda
Get: FIFA17 and Madden17

But, I'll take anything EA puts on the system - more options and games is never a bad thing. I'd pick up a copy of Madden.

Mass Effect Andromeda isn't coming to the Nintendo Switch, that's already been confirmed. Given this is EA, the most likely game will be FIFA and will be a watered down port.

I still don't see why third party support is important. I want the Switch to play indies and Nintendo games. The rest is on PC.

It was an honest answer but surprising he didn't give the more political , "It's going to be fanstastic!" That most execs give prior to launch.

If they do Star Wars Battlefront I'd buy that

Don't care. EA isn't getting a penny of my money regardless.

@OptometristLime Nope: EA's staff are all pirates.

Honestly, they didn't support systems very well when they did sell. Instead of giving us a full on Dead Space with RE4 style controls, they gave us an arcade shooter. (Which, as a dead space nut job, I still enjoyed... but still...) The DS only received one game that I can think of that wasn't a super-downgraded port of an already existing and popular franchise, and that was Henry Hatsworth. They're just not interested in expanding their market base. All they want is to find new ways to exploit their current ones in Battlefield and Fifa.

@FragRed Wait, source? It hasn't been confirmed but, as far as I recall, it hasn't been debunked either.

I have zero interest in anything EA publishes.

Unless they update Beetle Adventure Racing for the N64. I'd buy that in a second.

Doesn't sound too promising. I just hope they're not porting any of their mobile versions of stuff. Sim City Buildit is a disgrace and they've removed all the decent old versions

I'm not interested in E.A whatever so they lie and talk a load of crap.And treat nintendo fans as thou we are second class.

If they stick FIFA/Madden on the Switch, I'm sure that would get a lot of commuters on board...there's people at my work who are obsessed with FIFA* - who also have long journeys in to work, who would jump at the chance to while away a boring train ride playing FIFA.

*I had to shake my head when one of my colleagues said that you have to pay for different goal celebrations. I mean what the....?

Dear perspective 3rd part Switch candidates,

If you want your games to be successful ( AKA make a profit) please follow this simple formula and you are guaranteed to small profit at the minimum.

1. Please do not release older watered down ports and charge full price. This is a no no !

2. When you release a brand new game across all systems/consoles, please do not release the"Switch" version overpriced and/or with missing content.

Yours truly,

A concerned gamer.

Who needs EA?

I like waffles.

I can't remember the last time I cared about a game from EA or those under EA. Not big into shooters or sport games, so that doesn't leave much else for individuals like myself. That and the games I have purchased from EA have either asked me to pay $50 for what should have been part of the game, (Battlefront), were ruined by EA (Mass Effect), or worse.

I couldn't care less about EA anymore. Same goes for most of Ubisoft and Activision.

I wouldn't say they totally won't support the Switch. A little apprehension is to be expected, considering the total failure of the Wii U. EA developed dozens of games for the Wii, so if the Switch is a success, there's no reason why EA wouldn't completely jump on board with their support of the Switch. Only time will tell, though.

EA games are nothing to sell consoles on in my opinion. Nintendo will sell fine with it's first party titles. The Wii u problem was mostly in it's name and poor martketing. Third parties can get on or stay off it doesn't matter to me. Switch is a day one buy for any real gamer.

@thesilverbrick yes! Loved that game. Was looking to rebuy it but the NTSC version costs a mini fortune. I have and can continue to live without EA support

@Acein210 Third part support is necessary if the Switch is going to be a success. Not everyone is a fan of Nintendo's first party titles. Nintendo could potentially hit the nail right on the head with the Switch, because I'm sure the idea of portable AAA games is very attractive to a lot of gamers outside of Nintendo's fanbase.

Hopefully that game is FIFA. FiFA is freaking huge.

expletive

Sports games on the go would be a big Switch seller- that's the type of game that would be a hit at the office at break time, especially with two Switch units like in the commercial.

*note: I don't care for sports games myself, but I can still see the potential.

NBA Live on Switch confirmed?

@Qun_Mang "*note: I don't care for sports games myself, but I can still see the potential."

My thoughts exactly.

On the one hand, shut up you got millions of dollars and porting may be seamless to worry. On the other hand, yep.

I'm just curious if the Switch will be able to run all of EA's games. I know the system won't be as powerful as the XBOX One or PS4, but if companies lower the visuals settings and optimize it for the Switch, who knows what it could handle.

He's right. It's a Wii U 1.5.

@Turbo857 How wrong can one person be?

Anyhow, this is EA all over. Never liked them, never will. No biggie for me, might be a deal-breaker for others.

Betting they port that wool game that doesn't have Yoshi in it.

I wish people wouldn't pretend that having all of EA's games on the Switch wouldn't be a great, great thing for the Switch and Nintendo.

Doesn't matter what you think of EA, it sells a ridiculous number of games.

EA is hedging bets here but that's fine. If it came out and said it had an "unprecedented relationship" brewing with Nintendo, I think we'd all expect worse.

Does Switch need EA? I guess we'll see. It would definitely not hurt. Imagine the Wii U launch without the early support that there was.

Well I hope that whatever they are, they're proper, full, on time ports. And not ones that jump into the end of a series like Mass Effect 3.

Hopefully the Switch will be easy to port too meaning at the very least a lower risk digital port can be made.

But ultimately all this relies on us actually buying these games. Nintendo first party is great and no there isn't a whole lot out there like it. But there are a lot of third party games out there more than worth your time too.

The switch needs the sports game more than anything else from EA.

Everyone is going crazy about mobile gaming, and suddenly this says mobile gaming isn't going anywhere. Makes sense...

Oh no, we won't get the same game released every single year...

The relevant discussion on Nintendo and Third Parties = Top 10 games at retail at any given time

Fifa

With that statement I'm sure we are getting a sports game from 2014 and some racing game from said year. This guy said just a game or two. That shows that they are "backing" the switch but not really investing much in there. Oh well.

It always starts like this. I remember articles like this one started coming out a few weeks or months prior to the wii u launch. It was the beginning of the end for third party support on said system. That was waaaaaaaaaay before it even came out. With Capcom "reviewing what might work" and this guy being doubtful of its prospect I'm starting to worry.

The switch is exactly what i want from my gaming. Play same game anywhere. Not a home console with a watered down portable that plays lite versions of games. If ea wants me to play their games, then they need to be on switch. Right now, I don't support any of their games since they not on either Nintendo system I own and my PS4 really is just for occasional aaa games.

"whether they be interested in a portable device" Ummm.. Playing Console quality EA games on the go a la battlefield and Madden sound amazing to the average gamer. How come this doesn't excite you EA?

I could personally do without EA, though unfortunately the Switch would suffer a bit without their support.

Hmm the last EA game I had was Madden, and that was a gift...sooooooo

Fifa 15 with Fifa 17 skin confirmed for launch window 👍🏻

@whanvee No profanity, thanks.

I admire their candor, if nothing else. And you know there IS nothing else to admire about EA.

@NintendoFan4Lyf I can't afford buying multiple console either, that is why I choose the one that have most of the games I like. Having options is a good thing.

sigh ... EA are third party support. They monopolize the sports genre. As far as they're concerned if you don't have EA games, then your console is doomed to fail. EA and Microsoft are best buds. Nintendo will never have EA's full support.

In my opinion Nintendo should concentrate on other companies, perhaps partner with 2K, and take down the EA cabal!

I'm only half serious here but I do think Nintendo will never, ever get EA's full support - as they are completely Xbox oriented.

FIFA 13 is still my most played Wii U game (though MK8 is catching up). Being able to take the joy-cons off for some two player FIFA at school/college/work/train/anywhere could really help the Switch (though the joy-cons don't look like they'll support the full control scheme, so hopefully the portable can be played using regular control pads too).

@NintendoFan4Lyf it's easier to market the switch as a home console you can play on the go..

This is a portable machine. Everybody knows that.

I think it could be titanfall 2. That has not sold great and Nintendo needs a shooter. I would be happy with that.

If mass effect was released for switch that would be amazing. Playing mass effect 4 on the go would be mental.

Releasing Fifa or Madden would be a bad move as it would be past half way through the relevant seasons. They should be released on switch but not till the year 18 games.

There isn't anything wrong with that statement imo. Considering what happened with Wii U is obvious. I plan to buy the Switch day one and give it a shot. The only EA game I play is Battlefield 1 which i already own on Xbox One. So if EA doesn't get involved at all then I still wouldn't care.

Switch needs Fifa.

Ea? Not interested!

Surely FIFA world be a good sell as portable game

EA, just go ahead and say that you don't want to hire a team to do port jobs to whatever architecture the Switch uses. Say all your resources are poured into x86-based things and nothing but. It's okay. Your candor will earn you respect.

EA won't be getting any money from me either way.

EA is surely... hmph... committed to the system, and... pppfff... enthusiastic about the new approach... and they're sure it... it... hehehe... sorry, I meant they will...

(Note: AlexSora89 utterly failed to regain his composure. We apologise for the inconvenience.)

People will buy the switch just to play multiplayer fifa on the go. Using the two controllers could really sell the mainstream on switch. I don't like fifa but literally everybody else does.

As much as Nintendo need 3rd party, they need to focus on making first and second party games. They can't rely on other companies.

@Totaldude911 Literally all of my gamer friends could give a rat's tush about FIFA. And I quite literally mean that.

@Yorumi That's the thing. Nintendo always have some form of third party support. Not the big hitters from the US, but their games aren't that good to begin with (IMHO) and they have their market. Does Switch really need the new FIFA or the new Fallout to be a hit? I'm don't really think so. It is a different market.

As long as it's not a year old port for full price yet again, I'm fine with whatever they give us. More than likely though, it's not gonna be a comparable release. EA hasn't been gracious in like... the pass decade

I am a either a person who likes to play their games in my lap or on the go for the most part, but for BOTW I will probably try to play on the TV when it isn't occupied.

Still for me the portable aspect of the Switch is amazing for me as a person who likes RPGs and have to do a lot of grinding, grinding will be such a lot easier on the go/portable ^^. (Can take the Switch to school or work and play when they have extra time).

So I am pretty sure people will like the portable aspect :+).

I don't think having Fifa or Need for Speed to get more casual gamers, even if I am not that interested in those kind of games myself I do hope people who like those sort of games will enjoy them ^^.

Basic business response. Don't commit and investors stay happy. It was the same vague non-committal response Capcom gave. Nintendo needs to start throwing it's weight around with the Switch. Devs need Switch to be successful because profits are shrinking. If consumers won't pay $70 a game then devs need a way to decrease cost. Switch gives them a lateral move with important features that the other platforms are lacking, like simplified controls and access to the youth market. The "hardcore" market is too small to support the quality they demand at the price they want it for.

Calling it now, EA losses ground to 2k sports because of the Switch.

I have no interest with almost all EA games except The Sims series and My Sims. EA can colaborate with Nintendo once again to create somewhat like My Sims with more deep robust aspect. EA should proof if they can deliver cute games like My Sims before. Not just only adult male games like usual.

I am interested only in the Bioware Stuff, but sports games are vital for the success of the console.

At least this rep from EA is being honest about being cautious and not all gung ho on the new system. People generally respect that more from a publisher. Try speaking like this, Ubisoft.

I guess I'm the minority. I'll take games from the following series: FIFA, Madden, Titan Fall, Battlefield, Mirror's Edge, NHL, Star Wars and Mass Effect.

@MeloMan totally agree

Most people don't understand.
We don't want another wii u flop with only first party games. I'm not gonna waste money on another console that lasts 3 to 4 years. Nintendo needs all the third party support it can get.

Nintendo should try and be a primary console. With the wii u it always seemed like a console just for Nintendo games. I hope the switch changes that

I would like to see NBA, NHL, and Mass Effect on the system, other than that, I could careless about EA, I've never cared for them, even in my Genesis days.

Can't you tell this is a European site, most people are wanting Fifa lol I don't think I will ever understand the love for soccer

Sigh, here we go again. I'm just about done with EA. Just bring the games. Don't trickle them down and then wonder why no one buys them. If you have to make late ports (given the release date of the NS) then make sure that we get the big franchises and make sure we get support on time with everyone else for the next go round. This is not hard. Also how are they unsure about handhelds? Nintendo has OWNED that market since the 80's. Argh. When the Ps4 or Xbone were pipe dreams and in preorder phase EA didn't hem and haw about support. If the NS has the power to run the games, just put them on the system. The gamers will follow. I swear if I had a tin foil hat I'd think western devs were out to sink Nintendo.

Plants vs zombies for sure

He's not wrong for being cautious. Nothing wrong with that.

Personally though I think it's going to do well enough. Even if it doesn't end up like the Wii, I think it'll at least outdo the 3DS.

And once it starts rolling, they'll jump on board.

While I understand that any new tech or concept should be met with due diligence regarding it's viability and research into how to play to it's strengths, what I don't understand is the trepidation regarding the ability to take it on the go, especially with gamers who also own a handheld. These are two different experiences. There's no down side if you already have a 3DS or PSP or whatever. We are talking about something that's been on gamer's minds for decades. The handheld/mobile experience is short sessions, pick up and play, convenient stow and go gaming. The Switch is a home console with potential for the complete hi-end home gaming experience (4K isn't worth mentioning for another couple of years). And holy crap, you can break it out and game at a friend's house... or in their car. It also puts an end to the 'Honey let's go we're gonna be late' "Ok... let me just finish this level" home gaming experience. Now it's 'Honey let's go we're late' "Ok you drive... I'll finish this level on the way" and the very clear 'no need to pause to take the dog out' type scenarios. The games will have a different vibe, a huge jump in graphics and cater to console gaming and maybe even laptop gamers. It doesn't compete or cannibalize, it augments and compliments the pure handheld experience and makes console gaming a far freer experience.

EA and their people ARE super douchy though.

@Billsama 3rd party support is important because there aren't enough of us in the PC master race. Console only gamers want to buy one system (usually) that has the majority of major games franchises and that their friends play. Remember the SNES days? When there were tons of games that everyone wanted to play on that system? Those days have declined severely and while like you I love Nintendo systems as exclusive boxes, I'd say about 85 percent of the console only gamers don't agree. Heck, Sony and Microsoft don't produce nearly as many exclusive titles as Nintendo but they are outselling right now because they have 3rd parties to pick up the slack. Also PC doesn't cover everything and PC only games usually don't draw console only gamers. (I'm a huge fighting game fan and while we are getting steam ports if I want to stay current/competitive I have to own one of the Twins.)

Diminished support means less money for Nintendo. Less money for Nintendo means less games for everyone. Look at this year alone. Look at how many games Nintendo put out. Don't you think that if the Wiiu had been a hot seller that we would have seen double that? If not more? Don't get me wrong, I am all kinds of annoyed at MS and Sony and short of 2017 being amazing I'll be returning to Nintendo/PC at the end of this gen; BUT I know that I am not the majority gamer. I spend several thousand dollars a year in games but my solitary quirkiness doesn't outweigh the mainstream gamer. Nintendo has to cater to them somehow.

An updated Def Jam Vendetta ... A boy can dream

@Ryu_Niiyama 👍🏻

rugh-row...

@Ogbert agreed on receiving the END of a trilogy and not the whole series.

But to play devils advocate, it was a really great port that was optimized for the game pad.

@Ryu_Niiyama the reason we don't have many releases this year is because they're saving all they can for Switch. I too, wouldn't want to develop for a dying system. That's just wasting money.

@Ryu_Niiyama The thing is Nintendo is not interested in competing with Microsoft and Sony. They have say that a lot of time and is clear in their decisions. That race is long lost. A lot of people wish the days of the snes come back but the reality right now is quiet different. We shouldn't put Nintendo consoles on the same level of a Xbox or a PS. They are not trying to be that. Maybe if people stop expecting a competitive console on that sense and focus their expectations where I think Nintendo is focusing their effort (fun games with clever ideas) then things will start falling into place. I know is not you. You are right. The majority is still expecting the next powerful Nintendo console. Which is sad, because I think those people are missing the point.

@HeroOfTime32 I say this with snuggles and love for both of my wiiu systems...the wiiu has been dying for longer than a year. This isn't a graceful sunset. It is a Weekend At Bernie's kick down the stairs. 3ds is getting a graceful sunset so far. Nintendo support has been flagging for some time, so I don't think it can just be blamed on NS dev and preparation. Lined coffers influence dev projects. If the WiiU had printed money, I would bet my right eye (and it's my last one so I'm serious) that we would have gotten a larger and more diverse wiiu library from Nintendo alone. Yes, I am taking into account Nintendo's habit to drop support like a baby giraffe during a system's twilight.

I know Nintendo says the Switch is a home console, but that sucker is a portable. So it will sell well. This is typical EA. Nintendo needs their sports games. A Dragon Age might do well. I always get a FIFA, but once EA did that to the WiiU I didn't buy anything from them not even for the PS4. I did the same with Ubi. The bottom line is the Switch needs to do well.

Love my 3DS, and while I bought a Wii U for my brother and played many stellar first party titles over at his place, I never ended up buying one for myself solely because of the lack of third party support. The inherent charm of the DS family seems absent from the Switch and unless they really wow me with something unforseen and if there are no AAA releases or possibly worse, gimped versions of AAA releases, then this system just won't be for me. I hate it because I've been holding out on getting a PS4 for half a generation waiting on the NX announcement.

EA? Being Honest? I'm impressed. Hopefully whatever game(s) they put out on there performs well enough, if only because I'd rather cautiousness be rewarded rather than the recklessness people here seem to demand from them...

I feel this is Nintendos last shot! Make or break for them. I myself am NOT Interested in the portable aspect at all. Firstly, I'd like to carry my vc and indie games over from my Wii U library And if the January reveal confirms that you can't plug in an external hard drive that will be a big issue for me & many gamers! The last thing I want to do is waste my valuable time with memory management!! The fact that I have to do it on PS4 is a pain in the butt and makes the Xbox one my system of choice at this time! Cmon Nintendo!!

@Billsama And that works for the Nintendo faithful like you and I. Please don't misunderstand me, I merely responded to your question as to why 3rd party support is important. To get that support that requires that Nintendo be on par or at least within a scaling architecture that devs won't whine about. The thing is Nintendo may not be out to compete with the Twins but they are out to make money. Which means they need tech that will bring games. Again it doesn't have to be equal but it has to be similar so devs can port and develop easily.

Nintendo had a strong grip on shaping many people's childhoods and that translated to an enduring (although if I look at this site often grumpy) fanbase however they don't have that now. Kids grew up with playstations and Xboxes not Gamecubes. Those that grew up with wiis see it as a console you graduate from and move to the "adult" (as I roll my eyes so hard my prosthetic flipped) consoles. Again the bottom line is that Nintendo needs to make money and their current consumer base is not very sustainable or profitable for them.

If Nintendo doesn't have to focus on staying afloat they can just churn out games. Which is a win win for everyone.

@Billsama,

The problem is that I get the point and love Nintendo and I would like the free time and money to have every system but I'm going to make a choice. Someone on here was throwing around some conflicting polling data and lambasting people for whining about their budget; basically, claiming that if you really love gaming you have multiple systems. That just isn't the real world for a lot of people. I hope Nintendo takes off with this (and that I get one as a gift) but my priority right now is trending toward a backlog including Fallout 4 and other games I've missed out on for basically a generation and a half.

@Ryu_Niiyama I agree with you for the most part. It is just that I think Nintendo's competition is elsewhere. Not the big consoles but the mobile space. But certainly they need to make it easy for devs to make and port their games to the new system. So far that seems to be the case with Switch (I hope) seeing they announced it will support unity and unreal engine. Anyway thank you for the healthy conversation. That is very hard to find on this site.

@gcunit not trying to be a smart Alec but I don't see what you're talking about. Sorry. I'm being serious, I'd like to know to avoid doing it. I'm extra careful on my wording in this site.

Give me NHL 17, 18 onwards and I would rather have it on Switch. Manage my team, cards and game the full game at home and out of the house?

I'd say one buy that and sell my PS4. EA sports is the only reason a PS4 is in my house.

All right, here's my opinion on this whole situation. I don't like EA. Their games don't appeal to me and their business practices can be rather questionable at times. But the fact of the matter remains is that EA is huge, they have a very influential say in the gaming market today. They produce the most popular AAA games in the industry and there are millions of people who buy Xboxes and PlayStations solely for FIFA and Madden. We may be very vocal in our desires for Nintendo's success, but we're the minority. EA has the power to literally make or break a console and loathe as I am to admit it, Nintendo needs to really consider appeasing them to give the Switch a foot in the living room door. My concern is that one of the only ways to do that is for Nintendo to actively participate in the technical arms race that defines the industry today. Gone are the days of gameplay before graphics, the majority of the gaming population wants higher graphical fidelity and 60fps on their giant TVs. That's not what the Switch is about and that is going to hinder third party support. Sure, Nintendo could have made a console similar to the other two, but that would eliminate their relevance in the marketplace altogether. The gaming space is already saturated with the Xbox, PlayStation, and PC with mobile covering the portable space. Gamers simply don't want a Nintendo experience any more. And that saddens me because I am a die hard Nintendo fan. I only game on my Nintendo systems and feel absolutely no need to go anywhere else. I feel trepidation at the notion of a Nintendo-less future but I fear that that will eventually become the case. Perhaps I'm just catastrophizing, but a total lack of EA support whatsoever makes that future a little too possible for my liking. Sorry for the rant!

At least all Nintendo teams will be pumping out all games for The Switch, so I'm not too worried.

As it stands I am also sceptical about how well the Switch tablet will be accepted, on the information we have been given.

I am not bothered about playing HD games on a small screen so will the Switch be a decent home console and a rival to the other two. Will third games look as good on a Switch?

I want Mass Effect.

@Billsama If the mobile space is what Nintendo is competing against then they are going to have to either exit the hardware sector (Miyamoto forbid) or open up the eshop and make it port friendly for mobile devs. I say exit because most mobile gamers don't carry a dedicated gaming machine too. Mobile users aren't going to put down their ipads to carry an NS if all it does is play games. Is it possible Nintendo is looking for greener pastures and might look at the mobile device market? Perhaps. However for now we are in this transition state and either way what's under the hood matters. If it isn't a system that is easily port friendly we are back in WiiU territory. Actually worse than that because some people were "burned" by the WiiU. So we are still dealing with making something that is on par or scales.

@HeroOfTime32 Yeah that was the sad thing, they were good ports for the most part! Even just having the map on the pad in things like Arkham City and Assassin's Creed was a huge improvement! Plus cool details in Arkham like getting radio messages through the pad (which reviewers later raved about in Arkham Knight on PS4 as a "new" feature!).

But with Mass Effect, WiiU got the third entry while PS3 got a full trilogy release (after the original two had been Xbox & PC exclusive for some time). To anyone interested who had the option, the WiiU port was lacking in comparison. Lacking two entire games.

I actually like EA so I'm glad they're back on board. Battlefield 1 and Fifa please.

Nintendo needs to sell the switch at a realistic price. As a parent , the portability of the switch means that on field trips or just going out, each of my children will want one, including myself! Oh my wallet.

I can say with about 85% accuracy, that if Mass Effect Andromeda releases on the Switch, I will certainly buy it on the Switch. Otherwise, EA lost a potential costumer since that's the only non-nintendo series I'm interested in.

Having no EA games isn't a big loss for me. Of the the six pictured at the top of this article, the only one I would even consider buying is Mass Effect, but it's only a passing interest.

I think as well that EA might be concerned that they might not be able to rip off Switch owners as much with their constant DLC and microtransactions.

@TheBigK
Actually i'm also have no interest with EA, except The Sims series and My Sims (Cute & kid friendly of Sims). Don't forget if EA also create Girly games such as Charm Girl Club. Well, the rest of EA games just big meh from me. Even My Sims itself also mediocre series (Great Chibi character design, colorful places but poor gameplay quality).

@TheBigK "Gone are the days of gameplay before graphics, the majority of the gaming population wants higher graphical fidelity and 60fps on their giant TVs."

Sadly this is what I think is killing the industry right now. Ho hum, hopefully that crash will come sooner rather than later.

i'm not hoping for a game, necessarily. i'd like something like ea access or origin access for switch.

@whanvee I edited it out. Your line about the racing game included an expletive right before the words ‘racing game'.

EA is too lazy toake a game from the ground up, all games will likely be released
Released games that are already cheaper on other systems and then cry about lack of sales, I mean it worked for them for Wii U.

@Tyranexx
Very good post. So different from the "I don't like EA games and the world revolves around me".

Like you I can do without EA but understand the added attraction it can bring to the Nintendo system.
I really find it annoying when people go on about Nintendo don't need third party support.

If Ninty don't need the third party support then why the hell do Nintendo keep courting them? Why not tell them to get lost or tell them not to put games on their systems? They don't because Nintendo knows it is important.

I want the Switch to be a success and every little helps. It's not about me.

Unsurprising, really. If it sells, third parties will come.

It's obviously good to have EA on board, but on a personal level I couldn't care less. I have a grand total of zero EA games in my Wii U / PS4 libraries combined. I'm just not interested in the kind of stuff they put out, even as a big football (soccer) fan.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE

EA are dirt. They can start by giving Switch owners the Mass Effect Trilogy for free. We should have got it on Wii U.

That would be a good start.

I don't really care about the portable aspect, but I really want that portable local multiplayer, having things like Mario Kart, fighting games, or something like Worms would be fantastic, portable gaming is not about playing solo anymore, is about sharing it with someone else, that's why Switch would really benefit a lot from having mainstream games like FIFA and Madden.

@Ryu_Niiyama Nintendo has been out of the console race since long before wii u and yet they has met success. The fact that the Switch doesn't compete directly with xbox and ps doesn't put it on wii u territory. If someone can influence the possible success of the new console is Nintendo itself and their own sometimes questionable decisions. The hardcore gaming scene is not interested in Nintendo product. Not even if they put Skyrim in there. Switch will be a success only if Nintendo made enough good games for it. Just like that. And yes, I think the public for it is in the mobile space right now. With that, I don't mean Nintendo needs to open the eshop and become the new appStore. No. But there is a public there, somewhere between a casual and a hardcore gamer. And that I think is where Nintendo is aiming.

This talk of EA taking a cautious approach on an unknown console is full of crap. They only take the cautious approach when it comes to Nintendo, whereas they throw their full support behind Sony & Microsoft next consoles right out of the gate even when they don't know what their next consoles are or even looks like.

I used to love Need for Speed Underground and NBA Street 1 & 2. So EA being active in Switch games would be exciting for me. Also, as others have mentioned portable Fifa by itself will sell consoles (if its decent).

I would totally buy Madden on Switch and not Xbone....

@sp_initiate-001 If the Switch sells well, there's no reason why EA won't be fully on board with it. They're in it for the money, just like all the other companies. The guy said himself that he's just unsure what the public's reaction to the Switch will be.

@Xaessya

never forget

@mjharper Yes and yes! - Andromeda and Titanfall 2 on me at all times. Who could scoff at that?

I would also love to see Overwatch get a port, which shouldn't be too difficult seeing as though a toaster could run that game. That game is rife with local multiplayer opportunities!

@gcunit oh ok sorry. Won't happen no mo

What I want most from EA is for them to allow the SNES version of "Sim City" back on Virtual Console again.
I love it's relaxing 16-bit soundtrack, and Dr. Wright is amusing.

@Hotfusion: I agree on all points. I believe a key reason (one of many) the Wii U didn't do nearly as well as it should have was because of a lack of third-party support as time went on. We're still seeing the effects; while a majority of Nintendo's first-party games for the system are wonderful, the notable gaps between releases that could have easily been filled by third parties has been hard to ignore. Indies have supported the system, but unfortunately most don't have the brand recognition or resources that larger companies like EA and Ubisoft have; plus, more than a few indie games only appeal to a certain niche.

I love my Wii U and don't believe the system deserves to be cut off its lifeline like what is clearly happening to it right now. Yet at the same time, it's easy to see how the system is in this situation. I don't wish for the same thing to happen to the Switch, and I believe third-party support is one of the keys to the future system's long-term survival.

EA's current catalog is not worth while for me. I used to play their NHL games, but havn't liked any since 2000, so stopped playing them. I would not mind if they revive their old unused IP's though, then MAYBE I would consider buying one of their games again.

EA wont fully support the Switch. That much is known. And only way they would keep supporting it is if it sells well. But it wont sell well if there are no games. Gotta love the catch-22 scenario that killed the WiiU. BUT if the 3DS developers move to the Switch (but not abandon the 3ds hopefully), then that would help sales and increase the catalog.

I am not holding my breath, but if things work out, this should help in the long run. However, many of the bigger 3rd party companies are rather two-faced, so it would not surprise me when they start making excuses on why they wont do anything after a point.

I have two Xbox Ones and EA Access so I an good.

All I care about when it comes to Nintendo is the exclusives and nothing else. Also for the first time ever I am not sold on Nintendo.

It doesn't matter one bit to me as to whether or not they support the Switch as I have an Xbox One and therefore other means to play the games they make. Say what you want about EA but the reality is that they have some great IP like Dragon Age and Mass Effect, and those games being on a Nintendo system would be a huge boon for the system. EA is always been a business focused company and really it is simply up to Nintendo to gain their support. Make the system a success and they will get support from EA.

I don't think EA is entirely wrong here.

There's a good chance Nintendo has a hit on their hands if the hipsters come out the way they came out for NES Mini and Pokémon GO, but they're a fickle bunch.

However, the usual gaming market that buys only AAA annual release games isn't going to bother with this, for numerous reasons (the rep is absolutely dead on in saying the handheld is going to turn people in this group off), and that's EA's primary market.

@Beau_Skunk One of my exam time listens! (Along with Pilotwings and Mario Kart, which are also from the same composer)

Will there be a main series Pokemon game on it? That's what we need to know. Then we'll see how super effective the portable aspect is.

Nintendo needs to just give EA and the rest of the top ten third parties unwilling to port to their system a big lump sum of money. "Listen, we need our system to get atleast most od your biggest game franchises. Here is a million bucks to split amongst your top guys as a goodwill gesture and lets do some business.

Just the word amongst hardcore gamers that Nintendo is no longer being left out is WELL worth that 10 million. Consider it research and development and-or advertising costs and it will more than pay for itself

@SLIGEACH_EIRE i never got over the fact that they disnt think we deserved it l. I mean, after all, we exist as human beings so we are entitled to it, correct?

I hate EA

If I were Nintendo, I'd seriously stay away from EA. They reek of bad business and horrible games. :/

With Need for Speed for the Wii U, EA did a solid port. Better than the other consoles.

I'm praying its not fifa or madden or any of their crap sports games pleasseee titanfall 2 and battlefield 1 would be cool to see those on it

@yomanation We don't have the (not-rumor) specs to truly prove it's power level though. Even though it's a portable that's acts like a console? What's the porting like? Any compromises to get a Switch version of a game that the other guys have? Any benefits to the Switch version? Until we get a Switch version/ get a power level straight from horses mouth then we can't say for certain the divide. And why does it have to complete when it just need at least Xbox level power to get a port?

@Captain_Toad Exactly. People and their crystal balls, SMH. Tegra is a lot more powerful than some would give it credit for, the X1 alone was kicking the crap out of PS3 and 360 (and it's mobile), there's only telling what they have done with the one in Switch. Conservative estimates areally always a good thing mind you, but this machine is going to surprise people.

Without EA and other AAA full commitment, Nintendo only chance is to retain as much as possible of the actual 3ds fanbase. No chance anyone coming from XBox and Ps4 will "switch to Switch".

And I laugh loud reading all these harsh and disgusted comments about EA and their games. Most of Nintendo fan are completely out of touch about the current gaming world. In two weeks EA released the two best shooter of the year, and Mass effect will follow...

@the-madprofessor

Unfortunately it's not looking promising, granted Bioware are unlikely to confirm anything in response to a fan tweet but it seems pretty unambiguous : '(
http://www.idigitaltimes.com/mass-effect-andromeda-will-not-release-nintendo-switch-bioware-producer-confirms-564306

Something tells me I'll still still be buying a PS4 in 2017 if I want to play Titanfall 2 in all its glory.

@AJWolfTill Thanks for the link! Yeah, that tweet's definitely clear. The only hope is that they can't say anything until January, hence https://twitter.com/GambleMike/status/789956123419877376

@Mario_Fart Well you won't have to pay much: Titanfall 2 was already on sale for half price the other day.

@Mario_Fart titanfall 2 is really great. A refreshing (but a bit short) campaign with very clever level design and fast pvp with tight control and tons of playstyles available. Best fun in fps since ages!

All I want is Madden NFL to come out in the UK. I'm sick of watching other people play draft champions on YouTube

@BinaryFragger great comment. It's true as well. Reading through the comment I feel some people not all don't understand that in order for the switch to be successful they need third parties.
Nintendo needs EA not the other way

@Billsama Nintendo "stepped" out of the console race with the wii. They still had third party support (sure much of it was shovelware but the Ps2 had a ton of crap as well). Even with the obvious architectural differences. I'm not talking console race here and none of my posts have. I'm talking about making a console that will bring in games from 3rd parties. Sony never grabbed enough of the handheld market to stop Nintendo, so the 3ds did just fine underpowered in comparison to the vita. Again because they got games from 3rd parties.

The point isn't to be the strongest but instead to have the most diverse library. There are plenty of buyers of the Twins that want to play Nintendo games but not if that means giving up their current library and the average gamer has one system. Maybe a handheld and a console but that is pushing it too. The multiple system folks are rarer than they think. The "I buy everything" people are even more so. So Nintendo has to have a library that caters to the most amounts of people to make profit. Nintendo has enough money that if they wanted they could exit gaming and do something else for a while so this isn't about them being ok; this is about them turning a profit in their current line of business. Business isn't about coasting, investors don't want to hear "hey we lost some profit and sales are down, but we are still in the black and the doors won't close", they want to hear about profit. As Nintendo's dedicated fanbase ages and is not replaced by younger gamers with disposable income that margin for profit shrinks. Again, this isn't about competing, this is about making a system that devs can port to easily. More games for everyone.

@the-madprofessor This too! On other platforms the price of games drops - woohoo!

@BinaryFragger You've hit the nail on the head. It seems there's a total Catch 22 where third-party games for Nintendo systems are involved.

@Ryu_Niiyama #185: you nailed it. I totally agree with this

@Ryu_Niiyama I haven't support the idea of people buying multiple console in any of my post. In fact, I said I am one of those that buy just the one that have most of the games I want. You are using some strong facts to support an assumption. I have to insist on what I said before: Third party support doesn't determine the success of a console. The wii have third party support but it was because the console was successful in the first place not the other way around. And then assuming those ports were on par with their brothers on the other console is just convenient. People wouldn't prefer playing third party games on the wii, when they could have the better experience somewhere else.
Again, the success of a console does not depends on the support it have from the big studios. If the console sell well, then the big fighters would bring their games to it, no matter how hard it is to develop with.

When you have a game worthy of my time, I might care about you EA, till then stop being such a brat.

@Ryu_Niiyama That being said, why does Nintendo need investors in the first place? With their mounds of cash, there's no need to glean more money from outside influencers, thus not having its stock waver ,, thus being able to do what they want outside of the sphere of influence. That being said outside opinions are always great, but ones that actually know the business they run, versus profit-hungry power suits.

@RoomB31 You said investors. I've been talking about 3rd party software support. So I'm not sure why you are posing your question to me exactly. I'm just getting that out of the way for clarity. But they need investors because they are a publicly traded company. Are you proposing they go private?

@Ryu_Niiyama Let me clarify, I was referring to your penultimate point on profit making, and investors wanting results. Yes private, it's clear that after every investors meeting, there is this section that should be called "shareholders say the darnedest things", it's laughable at best and scary at worst with the lack of knowledge they have for the industry, yet they carry influence, mostly money, something that I don't see Nintendo needing.

@BiasedSonyFan I think I addressed most of your comment in post 128.

If Nintendo is looking to the mobile crowd then they are going to either need to build a more all in one device similar to mobile (which is a hard market to break into as is) or consider either exiting hardware or building a Nintendo quality mobile division to focus on churning out games to keep them relevant to the mobile space. That way they can keep the same focus on their hardware and matching software. With the DENA partnership and Apple partnership and success of pokemon go they might be looking to do some combo of these. However that still leaves the NS in a very odd transition state. If it isn't up to spec to port software to keep gamers happy it is going to sell similar or worse than the wiiu.

If NS is poised to compete with tablets directly it will still lose because again most average joe mobile only people don't carry a dedicated gaming system. Of course for all we know the NS is a ipad competitor. All I have is the teaser to go by and that doesn't look like it is aimed directly at mobile customers.

The reaction to pokemon go and mario run is due to "hey this is a Nintendo game that I can play on the device I already own or will upgrade to soon". I'm an apple watch and iphone owner who hates gaming on mobile, but I had the exact same reaction. "Here is an added value to my existing devices. Also it features a company I also love." That's why I still play miitomo and while I'll get mario run. I realize I'm using my own reactions here, but I don't think that based on how the public buys games, systems and mobile devices that I'm too far off from the mark.

Disclaimer: Former sales analyst for Apple. Former manager for Gamestop with a focus on sales analysis (basically DM in training).

@RoomB31 Ah gotcha. Then yeah I agree with you there. I work in payment processing now and the companies I've worked for have all been private and it is WAY easier than having to answer to a bunch of suits. If we need changes there is less red tape because the CEO goes "will this make us money and help our customers? Great let's get it done."

@UK-Nintendo Thanks!

@yomanation As I say again, how do you know it's power level?

Please don't say rumors.....

@BiasedSonyFan It is like you are agreeing and disagreeing with me in the same breath. LOL. I'm not arguing milking of franchises at all, and you are right games franchises and their usage is shrinking in many genres. I personally think that Nintendo is Queen as far as actually using their numerous IPs and generating new ones on a semi regular basis.

It seems like you are assuming that when I say library diversity that I mean tons of unique games. That is not what I am talking about. In fact that comes later on if a console remains popular. Look at the 3ds for example. The thing is the popular genres and games that sell home consoles aren't on Nintendo home consoles. And the Nintendo faithful fanbase is shrinking (as in the people that buy Nintendo systems for Nintendo games). If a Nintendo system has the the latest shooter or sports game AND it works like everyone else's plus Nintendo games, that looks way better to average joe gamer than the Nintendo box with the occasional gimped, late port, that is missing DLC and has no online community.

Also again if Nintendo doesn't have to worry about keeping a system afloat they can focus on churning out more games. Again, a win win for everyone.

If the 3DS is any indication, then yes there is still a market for dedicated gaming portables.

@BiasedSonyFan In any case, the beauty of the Switch is that it's competing in both markets as once, not one or the other. It works nearly equally well as both, so Nintendo can sell it to both markets. If you don't like the Switch as a portable system, then just buy it as Nintendo's new home console instead and never even remove it from its base if you never care to use it that way.

I really don't care about EA, they just don't make good games anymore.
BUT: I would love to have NHL on the Switch, mainly because these #!%&$§ ditched that series (and NBA too) on PC a long time ago. For so many years I want to play a recent NHL game again and I just can't because I don't have a PS or XB. That sucks.

@shani I feel you on NHL for PC. I have fifa and PES on pc but nope I have to get NHL on xbone. Well that and UFC 2.

@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah I actually bought NHL 09 for PC two years ago, online to learn that you can't play it with Xbox 360 controllers.

@yomanation Gotcha, so as a programmer you already know what power level the (yet to be released) Switch is?

So probably a FIFA 2016 port when the other consoles get FIFA 2017.

Sports games are a big factor for a lot of people and Nintendo's systems have been missing them. I wonder why they don't just make their own, not a Mario sports game but a serious football/hockey etc game. I'm sure they'd produce better games than EA's yearly efforts.

I swore off buying any EA games after they crapped all over the Wii U, but I'd buy Star Wars Battlefront 2 on the NS.

@KirbyTheVampire Yet they threw their full support behind the Xbox One despite the initial negative backlash it got when it was first unveiled along with the always need online, DRM and the Kinect being mandatory.

@sp_initiate-001 Could have been the power of it's hardware and the 360's success that was the deciding factor. Even though the Wii was a success as well, it's hardware was underwhelming. Who knows, though.

@ThomasBW84 I'm sorry. Considering the damn price of the Switch is going to be 199.99 GBP, the you wants to go on about "...It's not anticipated to be bleeding edge technology for home gaming" That is the definition of a strawman. Bleeding edge compared to what? Xbox One/PS4/PS4 Pro CPU are nothing but two netbook CPU ducktaped together with a low end and low-mid end gpu (at the time of released) respectively. If you want "bleeding edge" why don't you write for PC-Gamer Life instead of NintendoLife. Or better yet get you expectation in line.

@Billsama If Nintendo want to move units in Europe & Latin America, yeah, FIFA will help greatly with that and I say this a non-sport fan.

@Malakai I'm from Latin America and sadly I have to admit you are right.

Let the backpedaling begin!
No-one who isn't new to Nintendo or EA should be surprised by this (if you are genuinely surprised, hello, welcome!) The safe bet is most third parties have only expressed "interest" but are waiting to see how well Switch turns out before real commitments. Nintendo's doing the same thing with keeping 3DS going.

@World Yeah, those also have great SNES soundtracks.
Wish EA would allow it on VC, seeing as the SNES version of "Sim City" was actually mostly made by Nintendo. In fact, Shigeru Miyamoto helped Wil Wright make the game on SNES, (and a cancelled NES version) and they became friends as a result. So it's a crime EA won't let his series on Nintendo platforms. (EA bought out Maxis & Sim City years back.)

@Beau_Skunk Cool! Didn't know any of the history (an NES version? can't imagine what that would've been like--but there was an A-Train on Famicom so maybe like that), but yeah it's a real shame they won't let it back on the VC. It's the only Sim City title I've ever played!

@Ralizah You and every gamer worth their change shouldn't literally give anybody a rat's ass about FIFA (hold on to those rodent butts). However, FIFA is a mainstream success for a reason (i played soccer for a year and everyone hopped on the FIFA bandwagon) and Nintendo could use some of that momentum.

@Totaldude911 I don't disagree, but it's much less of a factor in the U.S. than in other parts of the world. I barely even hear about Soccer games here. All the people I know who like sports games play stuff like Madden or NBA2K.