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EA Insults Singles
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Electronic Arts make most of their money from live-service games, i.e. ones which require internet connectivity and players to log into a multiplayer server.

For the blessing of multiplayer - which isn't offered only by live-service games - many companies expect players to cough up extra money to buy digital products from their store.

That can be a very lucrative revenue stream and some relatively basic games make hilarious amounts of money from it.

This week EA tweeted:

They’re a 10 but they only like playing single-player games

It's one of those social media things - someone is a 10 out of 10 but there's one thing wrong with them.

In this case not pouring all of your hard earned money into their digital store.

Players and also some developers didn't appreciate the joke, including former Dragon Age - one of EA's biggest single-player game series - creator / lead writer and now Australian based David Gaider.

As usual, EA jumps on a trend, misses the point, punches itself in the face.

And Respawn - makers of EA published single-player Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - CEO Vince Zampella who responded with a facepalm.

EA eventually conceded defeat:

Roast well deserved. We’ll take this L cause playing single player games actually makes them an 11.

What were they thinking?

A few days earlier a second live-action trailer was released for fantasy single-player action roleplaying game Elden Ring.

Four months after a stellar launch and with 13.4 million copies sold as of last report, Bandai Namco released the trailer which stars Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, a Nigerian-born New Zealander.

The first stars actor Ming Na Wen (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Mandalorian, Stargate Universe).

We've played Elden Ring and it is brilliant.

So brilliant that it may now be casting a shadow over the industry.

Looking at contemporary titles one can't help but make unfavourable comparisons, especially when it comes to combat design.

Into the bargain their developers are going against the grain and eschewing any kind of microtransactions or their would-be up and coming replacements, NFTs (non-fungible tokens).

You buy it. It's yours to enjoy.

Players can't help but love that.

After launch Bandai Namco President Yasuo Miyakawa foreshadowed plans to grow the property.

Much effort was placed into creating ELDEN RING in order to exceed the expectations of our fans worldwide. With a similar goal, we will continue our efforts in expanding the brand beyond the game itself and into everyone’s daily life. We will continue to create enjoyment and fulfillment through entertainment so that we can come closer and connect to our fans around the world.

Their new commercial could be a reminder to both players and the industry that they're not done yet.

And EA's tweet a clumsy attempt to mock players who only play single-player titles like it.

[ Main Image: Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order - Cal Kestis. Credit: Electronic Arts via IMDb.com. ]

References

Bandai Namco Entertainment America (March 4, 2022). Elden Ring Live Action Trailer featuring Ming-Na Wen – "May Death Never Stop You". YouTube.

Bandai Namco Entertainment America (June 28, 2022). Elden Ring Live Action Trailer #2 ft. Israel Adesanya – "Be Sharper Than Their Swords". YouTube.

Bandai Namco Entertainment America (March 17, 2022). Elden Ring Reaches 12 Million Units Sold Worldwide.

Electronic Arts [@EA] (July 1, 2022). Roast well deserved. We’ll take this L cause playing single player games actually makes them an 11. Twitter.

Electronic Arts [@EA] (July 1, 2022). They’re a 10 but they only like playing single-player games. Twitter.

Gaider, David [@davidgaider] (July 1, 2022). As usual, EA jumps on a trend, misses the point, punches itself in the face. Twitter.

Mazanko, Vlad (November 5, 2021). EA Is Making Two-Thirds Of Its Revenue Through Live Services. The Gamer.

Wikipedia. Elden Ring. (viewed July 2, 2022)

Wikipedia. Israel Adesanya. (viewed July 2, 2022)

Zameplla, Vince [@VinceZampella] (July 1, 2022). Facepalm. Twitter.