Madden skipping Wii U in 2013, EA currently not developing for Wii U

[AaronSOLDIER]

Truly, Nintendo and EA have an unprecedented partnership.

The Madden series will not be appearing on Wii U in 2013, according to an EA Sports representative.
After speculation that the system would miss out on this year's Madden NFL 25, it is now confirmed that the series will skip Nintendo platforms for the first time since 1991.
Last year, a version of Madden NFL 13 came out for both Wii and Wii U. The Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii all had versions of Madden throughout their lives. In 2011, the 3DS launched with a version of Madden, and after that, EA confirmed that the series was not appearing on Nintendo's portable again.

The official statement from EA Sports is: "We will not be releasing a Wii U version of Madden NFL in 2013. However, we have a strong partnership with Nintendo and will continue to evaluate opportunities for delivering additional Madden NFL products for Nintendo fans in the future."

Source

TBH I couldn't care less about EA personally, most people buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games.

Less than two years after vowing to deliver on an "unprecedented partnership" with Nintendo, gaming giant EA is quiet on the Wii U front.

"We have no games in development for the Wii U currently," company spokesperson Jeff Brown told Kotaku yesterday. He did not rule out the chances of EA developing for the Wii U again. EA publishes many of gaming's biggest franchises, including Madden, The Sims, and Battlefield.

In June 2011, at the biggest gaming event of the year—E3—Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata closed his presentation of his company's biggest games and then-forthcoming Wii U console by welcoming then-CEO of EA John Riccitiello to the stage. "What Nintendo's new console delivers speaks directly to the players of EA Sports and EA Games. Nintendo's new console will produce brilliant high-definition graphics and new gameplay opportunities. We look forward to seeing great EA content on this new platform." Riccitiello was also enthused about Nintendo's embrace of online gaming.

EA delivered for Wii U early, releasing Wii U versions of Mass Effect 3, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Madden and FIFA for the new console. Each of those games had been released months earlier on rival Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms. While they ran well, they were, ultimately, late ports. EA's biggest console game of early 2013, Dead Space 3, skipped the Wii U.

Brown told Kotaku that that early run of EA games on Wii U represented EA delivering on its E3 2011 partnership.

EA supported Nintendo's previous console, the Wii, throughout the machine's lifespan, even launching some Wii-only/Wii-first games such as Steven Spielberg's Boom Blox and the MySims games. But the company, like many other major third-party companies, struggled to find a blockbuster hit for Wii. Rival Ubisoft succeeded with Just Dance, but that was an exception. On Nintendo consoles, traditionally the main company that has thrived is Nintendo as system owners flock to support the likes of the Wii Sports, Super Mario and Zelda games from Nintendo.

The full absence of Wii U games from Nintendo's pipeline seemed increasingly likely as the Wii U remained conspicuously absent from announcements regarding major 2013 EA games such as Battlefield 4 and the new Madden and FIFA. A lack of EA support will prevent Wii U gamers from having access to an NFL game, for which EA holds the exclusive license.

EA's refusal to put its sports games on Sega's Dreamcast system in 1999 is seen as one of the signs of Sega's decline in as a console maker. The Dreamcast was Sega's last box. On the other hand, EA may not be the kingmaker it once was, and it could be argued that Nintendo's own Wii Sports is the most successful and broadly-appealing sports game of the last generation.

While EA has clearly cooled on Wii U, it is ramping up support for many other devices, including the next PlayStation and Xbox, the latter of which will be officially revealed on May 21. "I’ve been with the company long time and we have never been better positioned for the launch of new technology, either mobile or console," Brown said. He said EA has invested deeply in preparing games for the next generation of consoles and expects to launch strong as it did at the start of the PS2 and Xbox era than it did with a weaker game slate at the beginning of the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii generation. Much of that planning can be credited to Riccitiello, who departed from EA earlier this year.

EA isn't alone in not having new games for Wii U. There are no signs of major forthcoming Wii U games from Take Two, with Grand Theft Auto V only promised for PS3 and Xbox 360. The next Call of Duty is also not announced for Wii U (the last one did come out for it). On the other hand, Warner Brothers has the next Batman game and the console-exclusive Scribblenauts Unmasked for Wii U this year. Ubisoft is bringing major Rayman and Assassin's Creed games to Wii U this year along with its ambitious new open-world game Watch Dogs.

http://kotaku.com/ea-has-no-games-in...ii-u-507588994

[admartian]

Source

TBH I couldn't care less about EA personally, most people buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games.

Yeah you might be right. But EA likes to release on any platform - they'd release to the Dreamcast if they could - is slightly worrying for the Wii U.

[AaronSOLDIER]

Yeah for Nintendo only gamers and Nintendo themselves this is bad, but I personally haven't bought an EA game for years and don't miss em.

[robvandam111]

Go eat some where else EA!! Nintendo for the win!

[Sufi]

Go eat some where else EA!! Nintendo for the win!

But that's not a win, that's not good for Nintendo.

[robvandam111]

But that's not a win, that's not good for Nintendo.

Depends, its says skipping 2013. What's so special about 2013, one single that's always going to end up getting another version the following year. Nintendo just needs to blow out some games before the holidays.

[RaY_210]

Personally I don't care, but it is a blow to the system. It needs all the support it can get. Or in the end, it may end up being a minor speed bump. Only time will tell.

[Sufi]

Depends, its says skipping 2013. What's so special about 2013, one single that's always going to end up getting another version the following year. Nintendo just needs to blow out some games before the holidays.

Well, it was pretty bad for PS3 when it first came out.

[Billy Mitchell]

The way I see it, Madden is an established game on Sony and Microsoft consoles right now solely because of many of its online features like multiplayer and online leagues, something Nintendo severely lacked with the Wii. Unfortunately it's going to be an uphill battle because Madden is such an online oriented game now, people have established friends that they play with who own similar consoles and won't likely change from what they're used to.

That being said, there are plenty of NFL fans who are Wii U owners who may not own other consoles, so this is a huge blow to those people. Not to mention the one Madden game they got was a shoddy port missing some features the PS3/360 had.

[coolguy]

ea should make the game it will sell and nintendo needs new leadership there wiiu boat is sinking

[F34R]

I don't think I normally buy anything except first party on Nintendo systems. I might have one or two 3rd party games...

[DeviousOne]

Source

TBH I couldn't care less about EA personally, most people buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games.

Thats true im one of those people! lol

[mynd]

Less than two years after vowing to deliver on an "unprecedented partnership" with Nintendo, gaming giant EA is quiet on the Wii U front.

"We have no games in development for the Wii U currently," company spokesperson Jeff Brown told Kotaku yesterday. He did not rule out the chances of EA developing for the Wii U again. EA publishes many of gaming's biggest franchises, including Madden, The Sims, and Battlefield.

In June 2011, at the biggest gaming event of the year—E3—Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata closed his presentation of his company's biggest games and then-forthcoming Wii U console by welcoming then-CEO of EA John Riccitiello to the stage. "What Nintendo's new console delivers speaks directly to the players of EA Sports and EA Games. Nintendo's new console will produce brilliant high-definition graphics and new gameplay opportunities. We look forward to seeing great EA content on this new platform." Riccitiello was also enthused about Nintendo's embrace of online gaming.

EA delivered for Wii U early, releasing Wii U versions of Mass Effect 3, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Madden and FIFA for the new console. Each of those games had been released months earlier on rival Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms. While they ran well, they were, ultimately, late ports. EA's biggest console game of early 2013, Dead Space 3, skipped the Wii U.

Brown told Kotaku that that early run of EA games on Wii U represented EA delivering on its E3 2011 partnership.

EA supported Nintendo's previous console, the Wii, throughout the machine's lifespan, even launching some Wii-only/Wii-first games such as Steven Spielberg's Boom Blox and the MySims games. But the company, like many other major third-party companies, struggled to find a blockbuster hit for Wii. Rival Ubisoft succeeded with Just Dance, but that was an exception. On Nintendo consoles, traditionally the main company that has thrived is Nintendo as system owners flock to support the likes of the Wii Sports, Super Mario and Zelda games from Nintendo.

The full absence of Wii U games from Nintendo's pipeline seemed increasingly likely as the Wii U remained conspicuously absent from announcements regarding major 2013 EA games such as Battlefield 4 and the new Madden and FIFA. A lack of EA support will prevent Wii U gamers from having access to an NFL game, for which EA holds the exclusive license.

EA's refusal to put its sports games on Sega's Dreamcast system in 1999 is seen as one of the signs of Sega's decline in as a console maker. The Dreamcast was Sega's last box. On the other hand, EA may not be the kingmaker it once was, and it could be argued that Nintendo's own Wii Sports is the most successful and broadly-appealing sports game of the last generation.

While EA has clearly cooled on Wii U, it is ramping up support for many other devices, including the next PlayStation and Xbox, the latter of which will be officially revealed on May 21. "I’ve been with the company long time and we have never been better positioned for the launch of new technology, either mobile or console," Brown said. He said EA has invested deeply in preparing games for the next generation of consoles and expects to launch strong as it did at the start of the PS2 and Xbox era than it did with a weaker game slate at the beginning of the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii generation. Much of that planning can be credited to Riccitiello, who departed from EA earlier this year.

EA isn't alone in not having new games for Wii U. There are no signs of major forthcoming Wii U games from Take Two, with Grand Theft Auto V only promised for PS3 and Xbox 360. The next Call of Duty is also not announced for Wii U (the last one did come out for it). On the other hand, Warner Brothers has the next Batman game and the console-exclusive Scribblenauts Unmasked for Wii U this year. Ubisoft is bringing major Rayman and Assassin's Creed games to Wii U this year along with its ambitious new open-world game Watch Dogs.

http://kotaku.com/ea-has-no-games-in...ii-u-507588994


She's dead Jim.

[$Greatness$]

Who's to blame? Should they have waited to release with PS4 and Nextbox? Serves Nintendo right, though, they brought these casuals into my world! YOU DID IT! YOU STARTED THIS MESS!

[Rapture]

Considering the hardware, I don't blame them. The Wii-U isn't going to survive this coming generation. Nintendo fucked up.

[claud3]

? Wii U ?

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Was stupid to release old tech at the door of a new generation. It's only hope is to run along side in comeptition to the PS3 which will probably outself it seeing as there is more content.

[justintheman87]

The Wii U is what the original Wii should of been on release in my opinion. The die hards will still buy the system for the next line of Mario and Zelda titles, but outside of that what will this system offer anyone?

[DeviousOne]

I got my Wii U for first party content like most people I know they will have a PS4 or nextbox to along with a Wii U.

Nintendo is pulling this 3ds fiasco again with wii U after they assured fans they learned their lesson.

Like previously mention Nintendo can only blame themselves for the position they are in!

[AaronSOLDIER]

Pfft doesn't bother me one bit, EA fucking sucks, won't be buying anything from them on any next gen systems. The odd one or two games that I'm interested in will be pirated on PC.

[Fon]

I'm only interested in the JRPG's and first party titles that the console will offer later down the line. Whether EA supports it or not is irrelevant.

[claud3]

It was stupid to call it the Wii U,

[AaronSOLDIER]

UPDATE: EA has confirmed to Eurogamer that FIFA 14 will not release on Wii U.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=558890

[RaY_210]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=558890

I see your FIFA and raise you their entire portfolio.

Warning: Do not click!

Someone's pissed at Nintendo.
Personally, I don't care, but it is a big hit. It's just stupid that EA are being such bitches about Nintendo not using their network, and who knows what else.

EA: Oh yeah, well it's my ball and I'm taking it home!

[Blacksite]

Speaking of stupid, EA Sports engineer's tweets on the Wii U:

Nintendo are still operating like it's 1990. They should have "done a Sega" and offered Mario/Zelda as PS4/Durango exclusives

It is an utterly intentional decision to focus our resources on markets which actually matter ... like mobile, and Gen4.

Yep, we've got plenty of problems, but WiiU isn't where that family/casual market is. It's on mobile/tablet now!