690°

EA turns in bummer fiscal report: “We’re disappointed in our underperformance”

EA's latest quarterly fiscal report included a stark admission: Battlefield V's sales fell way below expectations. This, combined with a severe drop in mobile-gaming revenue, led EA's executives to admit that they were "disappointed in our underperfomance" in fiscal Q3 2019.

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arstechnica.com
1944d ago Replies(6)
raWfodog1944d ago (Edited 1944d ago )

You know what this means...more loot box microtransactions!

UltraNova1943d ago

This means more mobile games, more MTs, less SP and more GaaS, like a lot more.

I'm wondering, where do the good old quality games fit in there ^^^?

fiveby91943d ago

Reminds me of the saying, 'The beatings will continue till morale improves'.

indysurfn1941d ago

Yeah instead of EA realizing that many companies have went down because of bad customer sentiment, they decide to do even more of want gives the the bad will reputation. Each company is amazing how they do this. Look at Circuit city.

They only went down because of this not the internet. They had better prices than best buy but best buy and other did not go down. No one thought Circuit city was going down before best buy (at the time). Now they are only part of another company on the internet.

GTgamer1944d ago (Edited 1944d ago )

Omg gamers finally spoke with their wallets 😭 it's so beautiful, EA ruined some of my most favorite franchises so screw them.

ZeroX98761944d ago

As much as I love some of those dev teams, recent years showed that EA is all about making profit at the expense of their company's image.

Battlefield 2 is still up to this day my most favorite BF title of all time, close to Bad company 2.
Battlefield 3 was nice, but afterwards it went downhill for the franchise.

And that's just one franchise which they screwed over, there's many more of it! :(

High Corporate members are obviously not communicating enough with their Devs.

MajorLazer1944d ago

I utterly, utterly loved BF:BC1. I was really hoping they'd keep it like that rather than make it like CoD

CorndogBurglar1944d ago (Edited 1944d ago )

"Jorgensen didn't mince words: he blamed the drop in the series' uptake on the developers' focus on a single-player campaign, as opposed to having a promised battle royale mode ready for fans in time for the game's launch." 

So they totally missed the point. Never mind what everyone was already complaining about before BR was even mentioned. Never mind all the unwanted SJW stuff and the historical inaccuracies that everyone was pissed off about as soon as the first teaser was released.

I won't pretend that a BR mode wouldn't have helped. It probably would have. But removing a Single Player mode to have BR also probably would have hurt.

At the end of the day, EA can take hits like this forever but it won't matter a single bit if they refuse to acknowledge what the majority of complaints were really about. I mean, most people had already written this game off after the first teaser, as soon as they saw the woman with the prosthetic arm running around on the front lines. At that point BR wasn't even expected for the game. So they need to open their eyes and realize that there's a certain level of historical accuracy that is expected in BF games, and the SJW stuff in a wargame is just so out of place that it should never be considered.

-Foxtrot1943d ago

The guy is so in denial

He knows why it didn’t sell he’s just spinning it

rainslacker1943d ago (Edited 1943d ago )

I just kind of find it funny that they said the devs focused on a SP campaign. If that's what they consider focus, then wow. Plus, it pretty much says that they aren't going to bother with SP campaigns in the games in the future.

The reason this game didn't do as expected is because the dev couldn't respect the players. Because they spent too much time pandering to a group of people who don't give a shit about games, like EA is known to do itself. DICE is all that EA is. They act the same, and DICE does EA's bidding. They are just as bad, because it wasn't DICE who screwed up last years SW:BF, it was EA, who were just as bad towards the community, and that game didn't have a SP campaign, was a Star Wars game, and still didn't live up to expectations. So what was their excuse then?

Lesson learned, don't tell your customers that have criticism not to buy the game if they don't like it, and just accept some damn accountability that people are not that keen on your idea of how to milk money out of them. When all the whales go to fortnite because it's the next big thing, you're screwed if you don't diversify your portfolio. Same thing many have said for years. Put all your eggs in one basket, and eventually, that basket is going to break.

Omegasyde1943d ago

Owed Bf 1942 and Bf2, on pc
Bf3 and bad company 2 on ps3.
On Ps4 I had Bf4 and Bf1 (both season passes too).

After placating to put a check in every box for BF Ww2 with more emphasis on “diversity” and less on gameplay - I completely skipped it and glad I did as the game launch was missing features.

indysurfn1943d ago

@UnHoly_One yes you do...You just dont realize it. If EA does not fall do to these practices it makes other companies have to do the same to compete or get bought out.

Most kids understand and say the same I cant believe you feel this way.

-Foxtrot1943d ago

“Don’t like it, don’t buy it”

badz1491943d ago

Square Enix, Sega and now EA having big drops in mobile-gaming revenues...music to my ear!

that's what you get for sacrificing console games for mobile revenue

CodeNameTBW21943d ago

Next time keep your politics outta battlefield and you wouldn't have this problem

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 1941d ago
solideagle1944d ago

"Jorgensen didn't mince words: he blamed the drop in the series' uptake on the developers' focus on a single-player campaign, as opposed to having a promised battle royale mode ready for fans in time for the game's launch."

more micro-transactions incoming. they are blaming single player rather stupidity of the devs speaking against gamers. I am not with SJW but they handled the situation poorly.

anonymousfan1944d ago (Edited 1944d ago )

To be fair in this digital age why don't they sell their SPs and MPs as separate games? How many MP gamers care about SP and vice versa?

UnHoly_One1944d ago

Well, Anthem is freaking spectacular, so I'd say it should probably do ok.

DVAcme1944d ago

Oh, ok, you're one of those.

bloop1944d ago

Did you actually play the demo Unholy_One?? Bullet sponge enemies with no A.I., visuals nowhere near what the reveal was like with possibly the worst gui I've ever witnessed leading to complete disorientation during gun fights, atrocious frame rate, bugs causing the game to freeze for half a second when objective items pop up on screen, enemies disappearing into thin air and all audio glitching and dropping out? I certainly didn't find it spectacular. And keep in mind that was a demo, indicative of the final product, not a beta.

TKCMuzzer1944d ago

What? did you have access to a different demo? .........loading.............. ...loading................loadi ng.............
Its Destiny but amazingly not as good (i don't like Destiny)
Poor frame rate, stupid AI, constant loading. You are paying for an unfinished product.

UnHoly_One1944d ago (Edited 1944d ago )

Sorry I had a drastically different experience than what you guys had. I played both weekends of the demo. Probably put about 40 hours into it, honestly. lol

I loved it. Yeah there were some bugs, but I have no reason to doubt that they will be fixed in the final product.

The demo was pulled out and put together like 2 months ago, there have been a ton of changes to the real game since then.

If you don't like it, you don't like it, and I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise, but I thought the game was spectacular and can't wait to get it. I'm subscribing to EA Access for a month so I can play it a week early, too. lol

RememberThe3571943d ago

Honestly I'm glad you had a good time, but it seems to me that they are pushing this game out way too soon. This game looks like it needs new consoles to achieve it's vision. Instead, they have to please their clueless investors who'd rather see new product launches rather than quality product launches.

rainslacker1943d ago

But it has a SP campaign, so either the SP campaign sucks, or the game will under perform. They expect what, 5 million in sales in the first month?

According to EA, SP campaigns are a bane to their success. It couldn't be that people just aren't that into EA anymore, or there are competitors offering more interesting products for the consumer.

fiveby91943d ago

I played both weekends of the Anthem demo. Based on that it will not be a day 1 purchase for me. Maybe later in the future but not right away. Too many unknowns. I want Bioware to be successful but sure wish they could be separate from EA.

Notellin1943d ago

Man I'm glad someone enjoyed it because I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in my life. Felt like a poor man's sci-fi Division. Except the enemy AI was boring and rarely put up a challenge.

I hope people like it enough that EA doesn't shutter BioWare but I'm definitely not interested.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 1943d ago
1943d ago Replies(1)
lociefer1944d ago

Great news, apparently the fans they made fun off with bf5 didnt actually buy it, and their greed with mobile/fully priced games with Mts finally bit them in the ass, it's too bad we can't give em another golden poo trophy, not that it mattered to them anyways

Concertoine1944d ago

No one’s battlefield.

They actually blamed the single player campaign? How about your terrible marketing and grandstanding?

Im frankly shocked that its sold 7 million and that they only missed their mark by 1 million.

Daishi1944d ago

I would love to know how many of those sold were after cutting the price.

rainslacker1943d ago

What's more amazing is that they consider 7 million a poor number, and just expect everyone to buy it without question. Better to shoot low, and win big, than come up dissapointed with the investors. Makes investors less prone to invest if they don't get their expected return.

EA's been knocked around quite a bit the past couple years. Sadly, it doesn't appear they're looking at it from the stand point of them doing things wrong, and trying to maybe do things right, but instead, in true EA fashion, blaming anything that doesn't hold them accountable.

Hopefully next, their SJW pandering goes out the window, and they start going back to the gamers who actually buy their games. We're more likely to buy their crappy MT than the SJW who don't even buy their games are.

fiveby91943d ago

EA is MTx hyper-focused. As the saying goes, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". I just have to stay away from EA titles. As a publisher, they are a terrible influence on the gaming market.

blackblades1943d ago

So we have this and sega/square mobile adventure loss hmmmm ok.

Relientk771944d ago

This makes me so happy, get screwed EA lol

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100°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

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windowscentral.com
ocelot072d ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda2d ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

shinoff21831d 22h ago

Right. I definitely see what a headlined from a website named windows central was trying to do though. It's cute little wordplay to help out the green box

Flewid6381d 21h ago

Are PlayStation games no longer good or worth playing once they are old?

Elda1d 21h ago

I'm guessing my comment went over your head.

XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

220°

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie. This is something of a homecoming, as Microsoft owns Activision.

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engadget.com
Obscure_Observer3d ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning772d ago

I guess.

How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )

At least it wouldn't be MS of all ppl destroying them.

MS really should let go Tango go like they did TFB here.

darthv722d ago (Edited 2d ago )

one was under Bethesda (Tango) the other under Activision (TFB). Clearly each one handled the separations of their subordinates differently.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )"

Perhaps because Zenimax and ABK handles such matters differently based on their own internal policies as "independent" publishers.

Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future. Which could also be the reason why they ensured an exclusive partnership with TFB and its new game, before anyone else.

Sad and disgusting. But it is what it is.

Lightning772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future."

MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB.

It's inexcusable, they have options on how to handle studios they don't want anymore with killing jobs. Not just MS but the rest of the industry also.

Sad and disgusting sure how many will get shut down next year or this year even?

I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB."

Imo, MS separated from TFB because they didn´t had a game associated with Xbox yet, unlike Tango.

"I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another."

Fair enough. It was indeed an epic dumb move from them to close Tango.

Still, all to be forgotten, like always have. This is not the first time a big publisher shuts down a beloved and/or successful studio out of nowhere and certainly won´t be the last. Do you remember Lionhead? Do you remember Evolution Studios? Yeah... both were beloved studios and yet, those companies kill those studios in q blink of an eye and got away with it.

anast2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

The studio boss made some money from this transaction. Once the game releases, the studio will get chopped up.

-Foxtrot3d ago

Manages to buy their freedom especially after all the shit Microsoft has been doing with its studios lately

...

Goes right back to them as partners.

Okaaaaaay...

darthv722d ago

Id venture a guess that TFB working directly with MS was a better outcome than working through Activision to get to MS.

VersusDMC2d ago

From the article...

"Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff"

I doubt those 86 employees enjoyed the Microsoft experience over Activisions.

Inverno2d ago

MS shuts down studios because of lack of resources and then helps these guys by giving em resources. Also MS is what forced them to buy their freedom in the first place? What kind of logic 😂

Chevalier2d ago

The best thing is that the company that is worth $3 trillion and owns the company instead of Xbox lacks resources. How the hell does a company worth $3 trillion making a measly $70 billion purchase they 'can't' support. Lol

BlindMango1d 23h ago

The reason they would need to "partner with Microsoft" is simply to make a game that's part of a franchise that Microsoft owns. Meaning they're probably going to make a new Spyro game - they're still an independent studio, but are making a game in a franchise that Microsoft owns. It's kind of like Remedy partnering with Rockstar to be able to make the Max Payne remakes.

shinoff21831d 22h ago

It was probably the deal to get released from Ms

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 22h ago
Sciurus_vulgaris2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Xbox’s gaming division seems to still function as 3 semi-autonomous sub-divisions, Xbox Studios, Bethesda and ABK. The three main sub-divisions can seemingly shut down or build studios and set up partnerships independently. This would explain why Bethesda can recently shutdown studios, while ABK spins off one studio, while building a new one. Plus, Toys for Bob could be spun off by ABK, only to immediately re-partner with Microsoft.

Chevalier2d ago

That's absolutely 💯 BS. Any sane 'autonomous' company would NOT put their games on Gamepass day 1 like COD will lose probably billions.

Also they're all under Xbox game studios so any autonomy is an illusion.

PhillyDonJawn2d ago

No, I'm sure MS can and does step in when they want something done specifically but I'm also sure they let them also work independently

shinoff21831d 22h ago

I highly highly doubt this. Ms controls all. The guys aren't gonna be allowed to just shut something down like that without approval. No way

Elda2d ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

Don´t worry. You won´t be playing it anyway since their next game will possible be a next gen Xbox console game.

Elda2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Don't worry about my comments.

PhillyDonJawn2d ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus232d ago

Nah he said "uninteresting", lots of people are interested in Astro Bot.

Elda2d ago

Never Astro Bot. Astro Bot looks better than any exclusive released on XB this entire generation & believe there hasn't been much.

Asplundh2d ago

Crash 4 was good, so I'm hopeful.

PhillyDonJawn2d ago

Hey you said that about SOT and looks like many ppl on PS is playing it. You also found bugsnax interesting ffs your opinion hold no weight lol.

Elda1d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

Bugsnax is BS, tried it & quickly deleted it. It's a game that fits right on Gamepass. PS5 owners that are probably playing the boring SOT you could count on one hand. LMAO!!...don't try to come for me.

PhillyDonJawn1d 21h ago

So you admit bugsnax interested you enough to try? 😂 someone gotta call you out on the foolishness.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 21h ago
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130°

What Happens to Your Steam Account When You Die?

The Outerhaven writes: While Steam has come out recently, stating that Steam accounts can't be transferred, we need to think about it since we all will eventually kick the bucket. But if Valve is denying transferring accounts, what can be done? Plenty, actually.

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theouterhaven.net
thorstein4d ago

It goes to my kids because I gave them the passwords.

To Steam: Missio has a song that conveys my feelings about you stealing my purchase after I die. It's called "Middle Fingers"

shinoff21833d ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear213d ago

Yeah worrying about digital ownership when you’re on the other side of the grass seems a little strange, but also on brand for these millennial journalists to worry about.

qalpha2d ago

I'm sure Keith will be happy to hear he's a millennial journalist.

Goodguy013d ago

I suppose if I have kids, I'd just give em my account details by retirement age. If I die young then...idk lol.

CrimsonWing693d ago

Yea, I mean just give someone the password to your account. Is that difficult to do or something? Like, I’m legit asking because I don’t know.

anast3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

It's not difficult but It's against the policy. If they find out, they will lock the account permanently.

CrimsonWing693d ago

Ah ok, I had a feeling there was something like that. It seems kind of weird that you can’t just hand your account over to a family member or friend and let them take over the account.

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