During a Q&A at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco, Electronic Arts' chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen told the audience that no one should expect the next generation of consoles to play our current crop of software.
The conclusion, according to Gamastutra, was part of Jorgensen's overall explanation as to why EA does not expect many of their customers to immediately jump on board the next generation bandwagon when the PS4 and Xbox 720 (or whatever they're actually called) arrive later this holiday season, as most are expecting:
"… Mainly because a lot of our titles are built around sports calendars. And so a FIFA, a Madden, an NCAA, an NHL title, all come out aligned with the sports calendar. And if a next-gen console doesn't come out until next Christmas, most people won't wait. They'll want to be involved in getting those titles early, because their friends are all playing those titles, and because they're being played on a current generation's consoles."
Again, the publisher is under the assumption that next generation will not be able to play the previous generation's games:
"An important thing to remember is that next-gen consoles will most likely not be backwards compatible… And if you [play] multiplayer on a game, you'll most likely not be able to play with someone on a different generation. And so if you're a FIFA player and, and the soccer season's starting in August, and all your friends are playing FIFA, you're going to want to be on the same box that they're on. So if they all go out and buy a gen-four box if it comes out at Christmas, then you'll most likely do it. If they all hold on and continue to play on third-generation, you'll probably not see that box purchase until after the soccer season's over."
Jorgensen actually views this situation as being a positive. Games for the next gen will be made, of course, but there will be a need to create games for current console, which ensures that gamers won't feel abandoned.
Still, it's something that most gamers are perhaps not too fond of hearing. Many believe that Sony was able to win two generations in a row, the PlayStation 1 and the PlayStation 2, thanks to backwards compatibility.
Given that consoles are less dedicated game machines and more multifaceted media centers, much like a computer, many would like to have just one machine be their default hub for all their needs.
And the one question that still remains largely unanswered is how digital games, not physical, falls into the equation. Will they be forced to stay on their console of origin or will things be more fluid, as they are with other digital ecosystems?
