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NBA Live Delayed, Madden To Frostbite, And Need For Speed Coming Next Fiscal Year
Alongside the news of EA's strong strong financial 2016, the publisher/developer had a few teases for the future of its franchises.
A new NBA Live is still on the way, despite setbacks. Electronic Arts CEO, Andrew Wilson, said on today's investor call that the next game has been pushed back to fall 2017 from an original release window that put it out before April. Wilson says it is withholding the game in order to release something, "truly innovative and disruptive in the marketplace."
Wilson also stated on the call that EA Tiburon is converting its Madden development to DICE's Frostbite engine, and the new engine will be used for Madden NFL 18 (like we reported last year). We don't know if this means it'll have a Frostbite-based story mode like FIFA's The Journey (which is getting a second season for FIFA 18), but Wilson assures it will offer major enhancements.
A new Need for Speed was mentioned with a fiscal year 2018 release window. Little else was said about the game, but it will have an online multiplayer focus.
Edit: We originally wrote Need for Speed had a 2018 release window. That window for Need for Speed's release is actually EA's 2018 fiscal year, which is now reflected in the headline as well.
Smaller news includes the confirmation that NHL 18 releases in September, EA has plans for a UFC game next year, and unfortunately, despite rumors, EA does not have a new Skate game currently in development.
[Source: Electronic Arts, Polygon]
Our Take
NBA Live is in a tricky position. It is hugely overshadowed by its competition and it has a lot of ground to make up. I'm curious to see how Frostbite affects Madden. It might lead to a rough transition for this year's entry. Skate never really grabbed me personally, but I know it has a lot of fans. I'm sure it's disappointing to hear it's not currently in development.
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