The EA Graveyard: A Deep Dive into Cancelled Games and Shuttered Dreams
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Electronic Arts (EA), a titan in the video game industry, has a history as rich and complex as the worlds they create. But sometimes, even the most ambitious projects meet an untimely end. So, what did EA cancel? The most recent high-profile cancellations include Apex Legends Mobile, a mobile version of Battlefield, and the Project Cars franchise. Furthermore, the studio behind the mobile Battlefield title, Industrial Toys, was shuttered. Several older games also had their servers shut down, effectively ending their online play. While cancellations are always disappointing for fans and developers alike, they often signal a shift in strategy or a reallocation of resources within the company. This article dives deep into these cancellations, exploring the reasons behind them and what they mean for the future of EA.
A Timeline of Terminated Titles
It’s important to understand the scope of EA’s cancellations. It’s not just about pulling the plug on a single game; it’s often about rethinking entire strategies. Here’s a breakdown of some notable cancellations and shutdowns in recent history:
- Apex Legends Mobile: This was a significant blow, as the game had initially performed well.
- Mobile Battlefield: The cancellation of a dedicated mobile Battlefield title indicates a possible re-evaluation of EA’s approach to mobile shooters.
- Project Cars Franchise: Ending development and investment in this racing franchise signaled a departure from a particular segment of the racing genre.
- Server Shutdowns (Various Titles): Games like Battlefield 1943, Bad Company, Bad Company 2, Crysis 3, and Dante’s Inferno all had their online services terminated.
The Reasons Behind the Razor
Why does a company like EA, with its vast resources, choose to cancel games or shutter studios? There are several key factors:
- Performance Issues: If a game isn’t meeting expectations in terms of player engagement or revenue generation, it may be deemed unsustainable.
- Shifting Market Trends: The gaming industry is constantly evolving. What’s popular today might be obsolete tomorrow. EA needs to adapt to these changes.
- Resource Allocation: Sometimes, resources are better spent on more promising projects. Cancelling a struggling game allows EA to redirect its focus to more viable ventures.
- Quality Control: In the case of Apex Legends Mobile, EA cited issues with maintaining the desired quality, quantity, and cadence of content updates.
- Licensing Issues: In the case of Star Wars, EA is losing the exclusive license.
Understanding the Mobile Market
The mobile gaming market is particularly volatile. Development costs are high, competition is fierce, and player expectations are constantly rising. The cancellations of Apex Legends Mobile and the mobile Battlefield title highlight the challenges of succeeding in this space. EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, has stated that the company plans to “reimagine a connected Apex mobile experience in the future,” suggesting that while the initial approach didn’t work, the company isn’t abandoning the mobile market entirely. The Games Learning Society has a lot of good information on the mobile market.
The Cost of Keeping the Lights On
Server shutdowns are a common occurrence in the gaming industry. Maintaining servers for older games can be expensive, especially when the player base dwindles. EA states that they typically shut down servers when fewer than 1% of peak online players across all EA titles are still playing. While it’s sad for fans of those older games, it’s often a necessary business decision.
The Impact on Studios and Developers
Cancellations not only affect players but also have a significant impact on the developers involved. The shuttering of Industrial Toys, for example, resulted in job losses. EA has stated that it will try to find other positions within the company for the affected employees, but layoffs are sometimes unavoidable. This is a harsh reality of the gaming industry, where projects can be cancelled at any stage of development.
EA’s Future Strategy
Despite these cancellations, EA remains a powerful force in the gaming world. The company has a strong portfolio of successful franchises, including FIFA (now EA Sports FC), Madden NFL, and The Sims. EA is also investing in new technologies and platforms, such as cloud gaming and subscription services. By making over 25 EA games available on Steam and offering an EA Access subscription on Steam, EA is trying to increase the popularity of their games.
While EA has had its share of controversies, the company continues to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing industry. They are bringing games back to Steam to provide a more seamless and enjoyable gaming experience for players, and are actively working on new and exciting games.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why was Apex Legends Mobile cancelled?
EA stated that the decision to sunset Apex Legends Mobile was due to the content pipeline not meeting their “bar for quality, quantity, and cadence.” This suggests that the team was struggling to deliver updates and maintain the game’s freshness.
2. What happened to the mobile Battlefield game?
The mobile Battlefield game was cancelled as part of a broader restructuring of EA’s mobile strategy. The company may be re-evaluating its approach to mobile shooters.
3. Is EA cancelling Apex Legends entirely?
No, only Apex Legends Mobile was cancelled. The main Apex Legends game on PC and consoles remains active and popular.
4. Why did EA shut down Industrial Toys?
Industrial Toys was the studio behind the mobile Battlefield game. With the cancellation of that project, EA decided to shutter the studio.
5. Which EA games had their servers shut down in 2023?
Several older games had their servers shut down in 2023, including Battlefield 1943, Bad Company, Bad Company 2, Crysis 3, and Dante’s Inferno.
6. Why does EA shut down servers for older games?
Maintaining servers for older games can be expensive, especially when the player base dwindles. EA typically shuts down servers when fewer than 1% of peak online players across all EA titles are still playing.
7. What is happening with the Project Cars franchise?
EA has chosen to “stop further development and investment” in the Project Cars racing franchise. This effectively cancels the series.
8. Has EA lost the Star Wars license?
EA is losing the exclusive license for Star Wars games, not the license entirely. Other companies can now develop Star Wars games as well.
9. What’s going on with Titanfall?
A cancelled project was codenamed Titanfall Legends, but Respawn will still have a lot on its plate.
10. Is EA going back to Steam?
Yes, Electronic Arts is bringing 25+ EA games to Steam that will also be available as part of an EA Access subscription on Steam.
11. Why did EA stop making NBA Live?
EA is not launching a new NBA LIVE HD product because they feel they can go so much further with the new design.
12. Why is EA banning accounts?
EA bans accounts for inappropriate content, cheating, and vulgar, threatening, or harassing content in any EA game or on any EA website.
13. Is EA games replacing Origin?
The EA app is our latest PC platform and has replaced Origin on PC. Origin for Mac continues to serve our Mac players.
14. How did EA get hacked?
Hackers bought stolen cookies online for $10 each. One of the cookies contained the login details of EA employees for third-party apps, one of which was Slack.
15. Where can I learn more about the gaming industry and its impact on learning?
You can find valuable resources and research at GamesLearningSociety.org. Their website provides insights into the intersection of games and education.