EA: We ‘Love’ Both Sony and Microsoft

EA's chief operating officer Peter Moore has discussed how the publisher is positioned for next-gen in an interview GamesIndustry. 

The company currently has several agreements with Microsoft to see exclusive content, early releases and even the free inclusion of a digital copy of FIFA 14 with the Xbox One Day One edition in Europe. 

However, Moore insists that EA is committed to both Sony and Microsoft. 

"We have relationships with both companies that go back many many years, so I think that what you saw [at gamescom] was, just from a phasing perspective, you saw a little bit more of the Microsoft stuff. We have a lot of partnership opportunities with Sony, with the PlayStation 4, which we have done for many many years, that maybe we should start talking more about.

"But it may have seemed that way, I don't think that we're favouring one over the other, we love them both dearly. It's important to the publishing community that both are very successful and I think they will be very successful."

His comments echo those of EA labels president Frank Gibeau who said the company has a "very good" relationship with Sony. 

Moore adds that he believes Microsoft made the FIFA deal in order to catch up with Sony in Europe where the Xbox brand has generally lagged behind PlayStation. 

"Microsoft, particularly in Europe, feels it needs to catch up a little bit with the PlayStation brand and this is one way to do it. You take soccer and you add Europe to the mix and then you bring it together. And I suspect as well Microsoft is looking at ways to add value, as I'm sure Sony is here to make the price points feel a little bit more of a bargain. We sat down a while back and talked about this and that's how it happened."

The executive noted that the close proximity of the PS4 and Xbox One launches were unprecedented and would cause problems for retailers with regard to stock management. He said that "Microsoft needs to cough up the date" for the Xbox One's release. 

As a publisher, Moore commented that EA's priority was to ensure everyone "remember[s] current gen is still there." EA has a number of cross-gen games announced including FIFA 14, Battlefield 4 and Dragon Age: Inquisition.