One announcement during Nintendo's recent Direct presentation that perhaps didn't get enough attention was Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Complete Edition. It's EA's "first-ever" Frostbite engine game to be released on the Switch.
In a recent interview with the How Games Make Money podcast, hosted by VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb, the game's producer Melvin Teo spoke about the many challenges the team at PopCap had to overcome to bring the game to Nintendo's platform.
“It was a massive technical undertaking. I remember when we first started and we managed to get the game to boot up and run. And it hit like 2 or 3 frames per second. It was a slideshow, and we had a lot of work to do."
To help make the entire process easier, PopCap called on the support team and port studio QLOC SA. While this name might not be instantly recognisable, this is the same company that previously worked on the Switch ports of Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.
The system's 4GB of RAM was apparently one of many limitations, but in the end, the team was able to overcome problems like this with "smart engineering decisions and optimizations", according to Teo. This also ensured the game ran at "a steady 30 frames per second" and at the same time didn't comprise the visuals - keeping the "charm and quality" of PVZ intact.
With PVZ now successfully ported to Nintendo's latest platform, it could potentially lead to bigger and better versions of FIFA.
EA in the past has excluded certain content from the Nintendo "Legacy" versions of FIFA (like "The Journey") because these builds weren't running on the latest engine. Some other Frostbite-powered series that were out of the question until now include Battlefield, Star Wars and titles like Madden.
What would you like to see next from EA now that the Frostbite engine is up and running on the Switch? Will you be picking up Plants Vs. Zombies when it's released on 19th March? Leave a comment down below.
[source venturebeat.com]
Comments 90
Can we look forward to a non-legacy edition FIFA 22 by year's end?
Ooh Battlefield would be pretty cool
As much as the gaming community trashes EA, it would be nice to see more support from them on Switch beyond second rate sports title ports. It would be amazing to see the Titanfall games on a Nintendo console.
Can we have a good fifa that doesn't clog the entire switch storage?
I hope so it would be great.
I'd love to play Star Wars Squadrons on the go personally
Had a ton of fun with that game on PC, it was a pretty great throwback to the days of the X-Wing/Tie Fighter duology games
Or you know, more lazy ports...because....you know...EA.
If this means that we can get more Frostbite games then I hope we get Star Wars Battlefront 2 and Squadrons.
Most people who own Nintendo consoles don't really even care about 95% of EA's recent output.
I doubt Battlefield will happen. Its too graphically powerful for the switch to handle.
now if it is battlefield from the 7th gen console era
(PS3 and Xbox 360), then those can run on switch. Battlefield 4 could run on the switch.
As for FIFA, I expect to see another legacy edition this year because it will be difficult for EA to port the switch version where it will take more time when comparing to other platforms.
EA also HAS to port FIFA to
Google Stadia, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One as well. That is a lot for EA considering they will stick with last gen releases. So I expect to see a FIFA Legacy Edition this year.
As for Madden, I doubt it will come to switch. It is only popular in the Western countries compared to FIFA where it is popular like everywhere.
Another thing is that FIFA, Madden, and Battlefield are all more graphically heavy than PVZ. Just because Frostbite 3 is running on switch, doesn't mean we will get a full version of FIFA or a Madden on switch.
@1ofUs if there is a good FIFA on switch, it WILL clog the storage space.
NBA 2k on switch is a full version of the game and it takes up like 40 GB on the platform
I’d love to see Madden! last time Madden was on a Nintendo system was the year Wii U released
I personally dc about FIFA legacy editions knowing PES is better all the way.
I just want more game variety
I want to say The Sims 4 for Switch, but i know it will not gonna happen. Already have the PS4 version.
@anoyonmus Isn't Stadia like officially dead? Let's all collectively forget that name.
NHL on the go would be great
Come on EA, Nintendo gamer's like myself would to see a port of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order on the Nintendo Switch. I even bought Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and Burnout Paradise Remastered to show support.
@Varkster not really. FIFA 22 will be on stadia as well and
Madden 22.
there will be more than 100 games coming to stadia so stadia isn't completely dead yet.
FIFA 21 is coming to stadia this month as well.
@LaytonPuzzle27 JFO is actually MORE POSSIBLE to run on switch compared EA's frostbite games.
JFO uses UE4 and it doesn't look as graphically intense. With careful porting, it can run on switch
@LaytonPuzzle27 HP remastered actually sold pretty well on switch.
For a while, it was on the Eshop under best sellers
Personally everyone. Do not get your hopes up.
Just because Frostbite 3 is running on switch doesn't mean Battlefield, full versions of FIFA, Madden, etc. will come to switch.
I guarantee you by the time Frostbite 3 runs properly on the switch, EA will have Frostbite 4 ready for PS5, PC, and XSX/S and disregard Frostbite 3
@Varkster
"Most people who own Nintendo consoles don't really even care about 95% of EA's recent output"
Is that so ?
I like The Sims games.
I have The Sims Bustin' Out for Gamecube, The Sims 3 Pets for 3DS, My Sims games on Wii and NDS.
The other The Sims games i played are on PS3 (The Sims 3 & Pets) and PS4 (The Sims 4).
The only EA games I'd buy are BioWare games. And those are still MIA
I still want EA to port SSX 3 to the switch.
@Anti-Matter I exagerrated my comment on purpose and added 'recent' at the end because I knew I was gonna get this kind of reply.
Half of what you listed isn't recent.
This would be exciting except for the fact that PvZ is practically burned out on all other consoles. I bought NFS just to show support, but probably won't double dip on this one... This really should be a F2P game like Paladins.
30 FPS in a competitive online shooter is downright unplayable.
I will buy any Star Wars game that comes to Switch.
Seeing a list of Frostbite games, I'm more interested in Mirror's Edge Catalyst than anything
But NFS Heat and maybe Star Wars Squadrons would also be interesting
From EA though what I want the most is an Alice Collection (they're non-Frosbite though) and maybe an Alice 3
I have no faith in EA's internal development teams to do the right thing. I fully expect the Switch version of FIFA 22 to be the Legacy edition, much like FIFA 20 and 21.
Madden is the top game I want. I think it would sell very well.
Dead Space Collection. 💀
From EA? Just Command and Conquer Kane's Wrath. Nice competitive game.... The Xbox 360 game version had a very nice controller interface and functions to an extent that I prefered to play the RTS on the console versus PC....
Homescreen icon: http://www.switchiconshowdown.com/detail.php?id=5325
Gotta buy them all! Oh wait, I've bought too many games and now I am poor. Stupid switch games that are awesome.
I would buy a Switch version of EA Replay.
I would seriously be content with PopCap's low-key works on Switch. The non-FPS Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle, Zuma, Bookworm... They're just pure, simple fun.
@Joeynator3000 I am superstitious a little. My numbers are 7 and 1. You posted at 7:11pm, was the 7th post, with 1 heart and also the next guy after you posted at 7:17pm. I hope something good happens. Hehe
@Sabrewing
Agreed. The first PVZ is one of the best games I've ever played.
That being said, a remaster of an older Battlefield made for Switch would be cool.
I hope no one actually believes this.
@Qwertyninty there will be more Frostbite games coming to switch but not FIFA tho
@westman98 I agree with u
Madden.
That a modern day NFL game, or American football game, is not on the Switch yet, is unacceptable.
We need Madden, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto on the Switch.
I just want their Star Wars games. And maybe Bad Company. I don’t have much in the ways of caring for BioWare’s games.
@kingbk you make it sound like there are many options for modern NFL games, when for years its been Madden or nothing. Though granted, I believe we finally have a new NFL licensed 2K-arcade like game coming this year, but that's the first of such NFL-licensed game outside of EA since the early 2000s
I’d be down for Dragon Age Inquisition, was on 360 after all
I am skeptical that EA will bring many ports to the Switch tbh
@Sabrewing Same here.
Hopefully this will lead to EA play coming to switch.
Basically EA saying you have to buy this for us to consider us putting more games on the system.
My son and nephew are very excited about this game coming to Switch.
My guess is if EA really had plans to support Switch with Frostbite games they would have invested in it a year or two ago. Whether this game was a test for them I'm nit sure but it kind of looks like Popcap have gone on their own with this one
Id love to see a competent version of fifa on switch
Jedi Fallen Order is their best game in recent memory.
I believe that when it actually happens as they bin saying that for the last few years
I don’t know on what engine it runs but in canada we love hockey and NHL or hockey games in general is a serious lack on the switch.
The only thing from EA I'd like to see on Switch is the first Mirrors Edge
"And it hit like 2 to 3 frames per second (Redacted) and we left it that way"
Jokes aside, hopefully it runs well for the consumers who do buy this game.
@1ofUs If you buy phsically it doeesn't. At least fifa 19 doesn't as its the only one i own.
I would like to see a decent Madden game for the Switch. Other than that, I really don't care about EA's catalog.
@Sabrewing I would also add Bejeweled to that list. These are classic on-the-go games.
@anoyonmus possible but when people think frostbite they won’t be getting the big games. I assume if this does well they will probably try and bring over other games in the series. But battlefield won’t be coming. Doubt they even attempt madden. It will be games with more animated visuals.
EA gets a lot of flak from Nintendo gamers, with good reason. But there is no doubt having their titles available on Switch would be a good thing, generally speaking. Having a Battlefield or a Madden on the Switch (given they are comparable to other consoles) would put up decent numbers I believe as far as third party titles go. EA also holds the licenses to games that I think would sell great on Switch, like The Sims 4 and Peggle.
I wonder how their ports of Burnout and Need for Speed sold on Switch?
Cool so hopefully if pvz sells well we can get some ports of dead space.
I would love a Battlefield 3 or 4 port. Honestly the biggest seller would probably be Battlefront 2 on Switch
@NGNYS I agree, however it's not the tech specs keeping devs away it's the business model. On Xbox/PS/PC it is all about loot boxes and micro-transactions. With Switch those models have not been as successful. The industry has changed the way it makes money. And it's not by selling copies of a single game.
Such a load of BS from EA, AGAIN. First off, Frostbite already runs on Nvidia Shield, so porting it to or fine-tuning it for the Switch shouldn't have to be THAT hard, since the difference in performance level is not that big.
Secondly, they've already had a perfect solution for years, in the form of the mobile version of Frostbite, which should run flawlessly on Switch and would be perfect for simple, cartoony games like Plants VS Zombies.
So, in short, I take this with a truck load of salt.
And I definitely don't expect any bigger EA titles to arrive, just because they have a simple RTS game running on the engine on the Switch, because it's EA and they'll always find some kind of excuse not to do it, where Nintendo is concerned.
Also, the idiot Andrew Wilson is still in charge, and he just doesn't like or respect Nintendo at all.
@ThanosReXXX
"Such a load of BS from EA, AGAIN."
The interview partner was an employee of PopCap not EA.
Can we get Madden and NHL too? i know madden is absolute trash these days, but still...
Realistically, anything from NFS Rivals to Heat.
At least one better Fifa. And any Battlefield game except Hardline.
I'd be totally happy with just Battlefield 1943, and the Dead Space and Dragon Age trilogies.
It would have been a lot easier and I imagine more financially beneficial to just release the original.
@ThanosReXXX switch has different hardware compared to ps4 and xbox one.
It will be difficult to port frostbite to switch than the other
@Qwertyninty older battlefield games might come tho
@HeyItsFlapjack NFS HP on switch sold pretty well. On the eshop, it was under best sellers for a while.
I don't think Burnout sold well when it first launched on switch because of the $50 price tag, but EA dropped the price to $30 so I think a lot more people are buying it
@Little_Squee I doubt we will see a better FIFA this year.
I expect a Legacy Edition this year
@Gaeus True, but don't be fooled into thinking that they can freely speak about EA and their engine, because EA will always keep a tight grip on such things, where it concerns their properties. Which is just about their only good quality...
@anoyonmus I think you need to re-read my comment. Nowhere in there was I comparing Switch to the Xbox One or PS4. I compared it to the Nvidia Shield, a piece of hardware that the Switch is a direct derivative of. It's only slightly less powerful than that.
From EA I'd buy Dead Space and Mass Effect. But I believe only ME Andromeda was made with Frostbite.
@anoyonmus I don’t think we will
"Better late than never", I always say. I'll be voting with my wallet, buying a copy of this game on day one. Looks like fun.
A Mass Effect Trilogy would be appreciated, and maybe a Dead Space trilogy since they have the games. PvZ is a very good start, it just should've happened sooner. If sales aren't good, it's because the game is long past it's prime-the art is a perfect fit for a Nintendo console.
@NullPointerExcep
Hi, American McGee is actually trying to get a third Alice game made, although it is a prequel to the first game, called Alice:Asylum, he regularly posts updates on facebook, i think he's currently working on a presentation to present to EA to try and get them to fund it, i really hope they do, i loved the first two, especially Madness Returns !
If I am EA and want to sell games on the Switch then Star Wars Battlefront II is the obvious next release. It should run similar to PVZ and would sell very well on Switch I reckon.
I would be super down for some older Battlefield games such as Bad Company 2 or Battlefield 3/4.
Another shocker is where is Mass Effect or Dragon Age??
@Andrew5678 I read they were going to bring it out last year but COVID messed it all up.
Also EA is spending ZERO on marketing this game and seems content for it to live or die on fans like me.
@kingbk COD will never happen on switch, that game takes up so much space that it can't fit on a 500 GB PS4
@ThanosReXXX still, it doesn't mean we are gonna get FIFA non legacy edition, Madden, Battlefront, Battlefield, etc.
I guarantee you that EA will most likely have Frostbite 4 announced at their next EA play live event and then not support Frostbite 4 on switch and disregard Frostbite 3 which is already on switch
@anoyonmus And that was exactly my point: there is no valid reason for Frostbite to not be supported on the Switch, but EA will always find some reason to still be able to not have to do that. It's EA's default stance, where Nintendo is concerned, and by now, it's become completely laughable.
If it wasn't already....
@ThanosReXXX in all fairness, it is EA’s first time putti by Frostbite on a Nintendo platform
@anoyonmus Well, I'd never put the words "fairness" and "EA" in the same sentence, because they are each other polar opposites. The point is also that even though it was the first time they used an ACTUAL full-blown version of Frostbite (I think, not even sure if it was the full-fat version), that doesn't mean that they couldn't have used it earlier.
Older versions have already been proven to be able to run on the Wii U, so getting them to run on the Switch shouldn't have been a problem either. Thing is that EA has always had a beef with Nintendo, ever since their online deal didn't go through (in case you didn't know: EA wanted to provide the Wii U with their online environment, but instead, Nintendo chose to build their own, which was one of the main things that soured the relationship, and it hasn't improved very much ever since)
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