“It’s clear to us that players see the company differently than we do”- EA

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EA’s Patrick Söderlund admits that the controversy surrounding Star Wars: Battlefront 2 has had an effect on the company and its image.

In a recent executive reshuffling at EA, Patrick Söderlund, who previously headed up EA’s worldwide studios, was named chief design officer.

With recent controversy over the use of microtransactions and loot boxes in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Söderlund knows EA made mistakes, and it’s the management’s responsibility to correct them.

“I’d be lying to you if I said that what’s happened with Battlefront and what’s happened with everything surrounding loot boxes and these things haven’t had an effect on EA as a company and an effect on us as management,” he told The Verge.


The company’s management is, as a result, looking not to repeat these mistakes, and this starts with what monetisation practises it approves for its upcoming games.

“We have taken significant steps as a company to review and understand the mechanics around monetisation, loot boxes, and other things in our games before they go to market,” he said.

“For games that come next, for Battlefield or for Anthem, [players have] made it very clear that we can’t afford to make similar mistakes. And we won’t.”

Söderlund promises to change what players don’t like, but he’s also aware of EA’s image among players today. “It’s clear to us that players see the company differently than we do,” he said.

“And in that situation, as a member of the executive team, as the guy who runs all of the studios, I have to take that seriously.”


It’s very clear that inclusion of pay-to-win mechanics in Star Wars: Battlefront 2 backfired in a way no one could have anticipated.



These things always anger players and pundits, but the mainstream attention they received this time, whether in the form of world governments looking into whether loot boxes constitute gambling, or lawmakers in the US itself setting out to to prevent games with loot boxes from being sold to anyone under 21 has been shocking.

Battlefront 2 re-added microtransactions in a patch released before the weekend. It’s only limited to cosmetic items, and DICE removed the randomised loot box elements, meaning you’ll only be paying for what you want.

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Source: https://www.vg247.com/2018/04/16/its-clear-to-us-that-players-see-the-company-differently-than-we-do-says-ea/

Comments

"“It’s clear to us that players see the company differently than we do”- EA" :: Login/Create an Account :: 8 comments

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TOXICPosted:

Why are they still adding micro transactions ffs, this shit needs to stop no?

raefonPosted:

And yet they still add in micro transactions. Whether its just cosmetic or not they are trying to have their cake and eat it too, Its just another big ass money grab.

Of course we see EA differently. You are money hungry snapper heads that don't listen to the consumer and want to just announce bigger sales and more profit rather than the brilliance of your game and the community approval.

lbreadsticklPosted:

"It's very clear that inclusion of pay-to-win mechanics in Star Wars: Battlefront 2 backfired in a way no one could have anticipated."

Remarkable. They couldn't anticipate the majorities reaction of a pay-to-win feature where everybody had already paid for the game.

SagePosted:

Maze
JTHM I overall really dislike micro transactions. We shouldn't have to pay $60 for the chance to get something. There's no more grind anymore Saldana, and if there is it's somethjng completely ridiculous (GTAO for an example)


Wait are you saying gta online is a grind? Someone can literally buy millions and keep destroying you with exsplosives. Microtransactions are everywhere and they ruin the fun unless it's cosmetic only.


He is saying gtav isnt a grind because of the shard cards bud .

MazePosted:

JTHM I overall really dislike micro transactions. We shouldn't have to pay $60 for the chance to get something. There's no more grind anymore Saldana, and if there is it's somethjng completely ridiculous (GTAO for an example)


Wait are you saying gta online is a grind? Someone can literally buy millions and keep destroying you with exsplosives. Microtransactions are everywhere and they ruin the fun unless it's cosmetic only.

MazePosted:

Glad to see battlefield and anthem won't be ruined by them. Even though they made a mistake they can fix it. They are just so big people will never forget.

VoroPosted:

I overall really dislike micro transactions. We shouldn't have to pay $60 for the chance to get something. There's no more grind anymore Saldana, and if there is it's somethjng completely ridiculous (GTAO for an example)

BFVPosted:

No shit! Why are they trying to play the ignorance card? "Oh we didn't know". Theres been public outcry on their forums and in general about micro-transactions for ages but they still implemented it. Devs can easily monetise a game through cosmetics only.