A preeminent Madden-on-Nintendo student dives deep into how EA went from greater than 75 video games on Wii to principally not anything and possibly again once more.
Nearly precisely 14 years ahead of the release of the Nintendo Transfer 2, EA’s then-CEO John Riccitiello took the degree at Nintendo’s annual E3 press convention on June 7, 2011 to speak about an unparalleled partnership with Nintendo on their upcoming console, the Wii U. “What Nintendo’s new console delivers speaks at once to the avid gamers of EA Sports activities and EA Video games,” Riccitiello informed the target market.
He went directly to warmly speak about the Wii U, speaking of its attainable and transformational nature. He spoke of the colourful long run of shooters at the Frostbite engine. The facility of an open on-line capability. Group extending past the console to cell, social, and the internet. This was once, in step with Riccitiello, a large step in EA’s objective of “converting video games to a factor that you just purchase to a spot that you just move.”
Lower than two years later, Riccitiello stepped down as CEO, leaving at the back of the tattered stays of a imaginable partnership with Nintendo as EA wound up being classified because the Worst Corporate in The usa via a Consumerist ballot in back-to-back years.
From there, EA by no means truly got here again to make stronger Nintendo platforms in complete power even with new management, however over the process the Nintendo Transfer’s existence cycle, they slowly began to extra critically make stronger Nintendo platforms. That’s apparently all culminating with Madden’s go back to Nintendo platforms after greater than a decade as Madden NFL 26 involves Transfer 2 on August 14, 2025.
It’s wild to look how EA went from an organization that ceaselessly supported Nintendo consoles with a wide selection of video games to 1 that launched 4 general video games on Wii U and reportedly despatched again their dev kits for the gadget ahead of the console’s November 2012 release. That very same corporate confirmed up with a brand new FIFA sport on Transfer in 2017, making it appear to be they could be again on the planet of Nintendo. They then proceeded to mail that sport in for years ahead of proving they might in truth make a somewhat feature-complete football sport on Transfer with EA Sports activities FC in 2023.
May just the promise of EA Sports activities FC and Madden on Transfer 2 be the beginning of EA Sports activities being an anticipated and common presence on Nintendo techniques once more? Possibly, however time will inform as a result of I believe like I’ve been bought this line ahead of.
As of the Wii’s release in 2006, EA and Nintendo appeared to be in a nice position. Madden NFL 07 was once a release identify for the brand new platform, and was once proven off at pre-launch occasions. It made use of movement controls and retained numerous what made the Madden collection cherished. Madden NFL 07 was once the primary of greater than 75 video games that EA launched at the Wii.
The unfold of video games was once huge. EA Sports activities was once broadly represented, with FIFA, Madden, Tiger Woods PGA Excursion, and extra. The Sims franchise confirmed up, even though essentially within the less-good MySims shape that finally made its technique to Transfer in 2024. Compromised even though frequently bold ports of different video games robotically gave the impression, with 2007’s The Godfather port being neatly gained and Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 boasting a forged on-line enjoy all over the Wii’s 2d vacation. Emblem new franchises even emerged, maximum significantly the Steven Spielberg-produced Increase Blox.
EA was once all in at the Wii, and whilst no longer each and every unmarried selection was once an excellent one, the attract of the informal good fortune of the gadget blended with some sturdy gross sales implored the writer to stay making an attempt. SSX Blur was once the 1080 sport on Wii we by no means were given. Increase Blox and its sequel Bash Birthday celebration are each improbable motion-dependent reviews. Lifeless Area: Extraction was once a legitimately nice rail shooter. The hit charge wasn’t altogether prime, however EA took sufficient swings on the plate that quite a lot of their video games became out sturdy.
They have been even at the vanguard of Nintendo’s Wii MotionPlus controller add-on. Wii Sports activities Lodge was once behind schedule so EA’s Tiger Woods PGA Excursion and Grand Slam Tennis have been there when the peripheral introduced. The Tiger Woods video games that made use of MotionPlus have been probably the most perfect makes use of of MotionPlus at the console.
Two years after MotionPlus introduced, Riccitiello, who had overseen EA all over just about everything of the Wii generation, took the degree at Nintendo’s E3 2011 press convention. He uttered the soon-to-be meme-worthy word “unparalleled partnership” after which all of it fell aside.
In some respects, EA learn the tea leaves as it should be. The Wii U was once a bomb from the outset. The act of necessarily shutting down building at the gadget ahead of it even got here out may have gave the impression preposterous on the time. I do know I heard quite a lot of feedback from different main publishers lamenting EA’s swift dismissal of the platform, but when the Ubisofts and Activisions of the arena may just do it far and wide once more, possibly they wouldn’t make the dedication to release Watch Canines and Name of Responsibility: Ghosts on Wii U.
It’s beneficiant to assume EA’s foresight was once that preternatural, even though. The truth most likely lies extra within the realm of spite. Throughout that E3 2011 presentation, Riccitiello hinted at a deeper on-line connection on Wii U – one thing that by no means actually got here to fruition even supposing Miiverse had its moments. Experiences trickled out through the years that EA sought after to combine their Beginning carrier into Nintendo’s on-line. I’ve been in a position to corroborate the ones stories, and whilst getting company, direct statements at the thought of Beginning on Wii U was once difficult, right here’s what I used to be in a position to piece in combination: Nintendo appeared for somebody to lend a hand them make on-line more potent on Wii U. EA noticed a chance to have a better keep watch over over Nintendo’s on-line. Preliminary conferences have been certain, therefore the E3 2011 second. One day, one corporate attempted to call for an excessive amount of keep watch over, whether or not it was once Nintendo being cussed or EA short of a larger piece of retailer gross sales, after which one corporate took their ball and went house. All of this predated the Wii U’s 2012 release and then again it ended, EA as an organization was once more than likely frustrated at their reviews with Nintendo and likewise have been shut sufficient to the gadget to look the obtrusive flaws in a brighter gentle. In order that they bailed.
Whilst Nintendo lovers will more than likely at all times hate EA, the corporate’s frank dismissal of the Wii U after release was once a good move. It was once your next step within the trail to their trendy shape, zeroing in on video games as a carrier throughout online-heavy video games like Celebrity Wars Battlefront and Battlefield in addition to the microtransaction-heavy Final Workforce modes of their sports activities video games. Nintendo turned into an afterthought as a result of their consoles didn’t have compatibility into EA’s technique. We will hate it, however sadly capitalism exists.
So what came about when a brand new Nintendo console had the prospective to be a powerful platform for GaaS and microtransactions? Smartly, EA despatched out a flier in FIFA 18 after which withered away once more. Their flagship engine didn’t appear to play great with Transfer first of all and after the bitter enjoy of the Wii U, why would they instantly hop onto the Transfer? Naturally, they have been mistaken along a wealth of different firms that simplest sheepishly dipped their toe into the Transfer waters in 2017.
Because the Transfer turned into one of the most perfect all-time-selling consoles ever, issues simplest more or less were given higher, with the primary consistent being an annual providing to the FIFA gods of lowering high quality because of EA’s propensity for Legacy Editions. EA didn’t appear to grasp what to do with Transfer, allotting EA Originals and overdue remastered ports. Past FIFA, EA simplest launched a great deal of video games in a 12 months as soon as. In 2021, Transfer had a overdue port of Apex Legends and Vegetation vs. Zombies: Struggle for Neighborville in addition to two neat EA Originals with Knockout Town and Misplaced in Random.
It’s no longer like EA’s video games have been unhealthy. Probably the most video games examined the higher limits of what the Transfer may just care for. Stories of Kenzara regulations, even supposing it didn’t run all that neatly on Transfer. And Tremendous Mega Baseball 4 is among the biggest baseball video games ever made, even supposing it didn’t run all that neatly on Transfer. The 2023 liberate of EA Sports activities FC was once an unbelievable port that blew the FIFA Transfer video games out of the water. Child steps have been made since 2017 that confirmed that EA may in truth take a Nintendo console critically once more.
One gargantuan sport remained elusive then again, as Madden – a perennial top-selling sports activities sport – remained off of Nintendo platforms for greater than a decade. That’s converting even though, as Madden as a sequence is returning to Nintendo for the primary time since 2012. It is going to had been a 13-year hole. For some context, the remaining time Madden hit a Nintendo platform, the primary Avengers film had only recently pop out. We’ve handed via more than one MCU stages because the remaining time a contemporary professional soccer sport introduced on Nintendo. Since 2012, Tom Brady has received 4 Tremendous Bowls and he’s additionally been retired for more than one seasons now. The reigning Tremendous Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts was once 14 years outdated. I may just move on, however my phrase it’s been a very long time.
For the reason that age the place EA launched dozens of video games on Wii, the video games trade has modified and shifted considerably. EA will most likely by no means be in a place the place they release that many video games in a technology ever once more. However with a brand new platform, we could be nearing a spot the place Transfer 2 is nearer to getting the similar EA video games as Xbox and PlayStation. Presently, it’s simply beginning with Madden and EA Sports activities FC. Possibly the longer term will carry Skate 4 or Mass Impact. I wouldn’t say I’m constructive for that to occur, however that is essentially the most constructive I’ve been about that because the Packers received the Tremendous Bowl in 2011. Optimistically with Madden again on Nintendo once more, the Packers can carry every other trophy again to Titletown.
