EA CFO Blake Jorgensen spoke briefly on the role the company will play with Nintendo’s upcoming console, the Switch. At the UBS Global Technology Conference, Jorgensen said that EA has plans to bring one of their bigger games to the platform but that, despite this, the company isn’t completely sure that the Switch will be a success.
“We’re excited for Nintendo, it’s an interesting device,” said Jorgensen. “But I can’t yet predict how broad it’s going to be, and [if people will] be interested in a portable device alongside their regular portable device that they have.”
While Jorgensen didn’t offer any details on the Switch game EA has in the works, he did say that it will be something from an existing franchise, and not an entirely new IP.
“In terms of Nintendo, in their announcement they announced that we’ll be supporting with a game or two on that new platform. We haven’t yet announced what game, but you should assume that it’s one of our bigger games we’ve been involved with.”
A little apprehension here is to be expected. Sales of EA games for Nintendo’s previous console, the Wii U, were less than satisfactory to the point that the company stopped bringing games to the system altogether in 2013.
Releasing a familiar game to Nintendo’s new console could be a safe way for EA to test the waters before deciding how much it wants to commit to the Switch. More details on the game could potentially be revealed when Nintendo shares more info on the Switch's software, price, and release on January 12.