Nintendo to meet with EA in March regarding Nintendo NX Support- RUMOR

However, according to information we've been given from a solid source, it would appear that Nintendo and EA are looking to put the past behind them and hop back into bed with one another. Nintendo Life contributor Liam Robertson - a man known to have his finger on several pulses and an ear permanently fixed to the ground - has been speaking to "several" staffers at EA and has discovered that the publisher is holding meetings with Nintendo next month and support for NX is a primary topic. He has now exclusively given us access to the correspondence he's been having with these sources.

It should come as no great shock to learn that EA has NX dev kits - we already know that they are out in the wild thanks to reports last year - but what is rather more surprising is Nintendo's eagerness to get the company back on board after the disappointment of the Wii U. EA was apparently one of the first publishers to get access to NX development hardware, and from the information we've been given, Nintendo is citing EA as a key ally when it comes to making its next console a success.

The sources claim that multiple meetings are lined up for March, and that EA has been discussing several points with Nintendo relating to marketing. These meetings will apparently decide how much support EA - or specifically, its EA Sports arm - will be giving Nintendo in the near future. The publisher understandably wants "a detailed plan" on how Nintendo intends to win over sports fans with NX hardware - something it failed to do with Wii U.

EA is keen to learn how Nintendo intends to build up a large enough "sports" audience on NX, as this was apparently one of the key reasons for the publisher abandoning Wii U - it simply wasn't seen as the console of choice for followers of sports.

EA is being quite bold and is asking Nintendo to spend more advertising dollars during televised sporting events like NFL games, NBA games, MLB games, World Cup matches and the World Series in order to claim this audience. The publisher is citing the fact that both Sony and Microsoft spend a large portion of cash during such events, and that EA's titles are given prominence in promotional campaigns.

Another point of contention involves hardware bundles. Traditionally, Nintendo doesn't bundle EA games with its consoles - unlike Microsoft and Sony. According to sources within EA, this is actually seen as something of an insult, and the company will be asking Nintendo to consider shipping NX consoles with leading EA Sports titles, such as FIFA and Madden. While this might smack of arrogance, it's a tactic which has worked well on rival hardware, so there's definitely logic to EA's reasoning.

Finally, there's the topic of applications. Sources claim that during a December meeting between EA and Nintendo executives, an EA exec "criticized Wii U for not having entertainment apps for MLB.TV, NBA, WWE Network, NHL Gamecenter Live, and the NFL". The PlayStation 4 has all of those applications, and EA feels that this is key reason for the machine's success among sports fans. The demand here is that Nintendo ensures NX is able to run such apps, or offer similar functionality to entice sports fans.

Source: Nintendo Life

It's interesting to see that Nintendo is willing to bend over backwards so much for third parties with the Nintendo NX- it gives me hope that they have learned their lesson this time around, and that they will be making a competitive offering.

It can play Crysis.

They better pull through, it's time to embrace the West!

Oh god, i was hoping people where going to Nintendo, not the other way around.

Hope EA doesn't make the NX a phone game dumping ground.

I hope they don't change their entire hardware philosophy just to please these big third party companies. I mean, I don't want them to go full Wii U either, I just hope there's some sort of middle ground.

We know Japanese third parties are on board with the NX- that's no longer the problem, they seem to love the thing.

Now the problem is western third parties- the last time a Nintendo console was viable for third parties, it was the N64 back in 1996-2000. That was 20 years ago, and western third parties now are more important than they ever were back then. Nintendo need them on board- and if they won't come to Nintendo, then yes, Nintendo has to go to them. I am glad to see that Nintendo isn't letting foolish pride get in the way of sensible business decisions.

I'm starting to get excited now. Nintendo is gonna pull through I can feel it.

@charizard1605:Oh thank god.

For a minute i though they where going door to door to every one, but if it's only the West, then i hope it all goes well.

Whould love the SMT games on a proper console, not the DS/3DS.

I don't care for EA's games for the most part, but I refuse to get hyped at these 3rd party news because disappointment might be too real.

This is good, but nobody should trust EA, just tell them that EA's engine can run on the NX and they will be sold. That is why EA backed out of the Wii U because it doesn't run Origin. And other stuff, but that's what they said.

Wii U runs Origin- in fact you needed Origin to login to EA Games online on Wii U. That said:

• Origin is not an engine, it is an online service;
• Origin was originally going to be the primary online network on the Wii U, before Nintendo backed out, which is widely believed to have soured EA and Nintendo's relationship with regards to Wii U and 3DS.

@charizard1605:

Wait, didn't EA support N64/GameCube/ Wii?

They did and I never said otherwise- it was Wii U/3DS they didn't support.

Let's hope everything goes well between them. Regardless of if we like EA or not, you can't deny that getting EA's support properly out the gate with NX, will very likely mean we'll see most, if not all other western developers and publishers follow suite.

Also could you Imagine, if the NX does indeed launch this holiday and is equal or better in terms of power than the X1 and PS4, and is easy to port to? We could see a Nintendo console launch with titles like Visceral's new Star Wars game, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Battlefield 5, Titanfall 2, the whole array of EA Sports titles, along with whatever else they announce this year. If this partnership is done right, we could really see Nintendo start to get back in the game.

Of course, this could also just end up been another Wii U situation, but we can dream of a better world, right guys.... right?

@charizard1605: Wow, I just pulled a Thorin there. "I could have never been so wrong."

That's one down, just Activision, Bethesda, and Some other devs to go. Ubisoft will come back to them; if not they need to talk to them too.

@thendefender: Activision is already on super good terms with Nintendo, since Wii U is the biggest selling SKU for Skylanders routinely. Ditto Ubisoft with Just Dance.

Bethesda will never support Nintendo, they are a lost cause. Nintendo need to get Rockstar on board.

@charizard1605: Why won't Bethesda port games to Nintendo platforms? That would be great if they got Rockstar, but it isn't as essential as other devs.

@thendefender: What? No, Rockstar have made the highest selling game of all time, getting them aboard is crucial. Nintendo cannot afford to miss the next GTA game.

What do you mean?

@charizard1605: Hmm, I don't know, Nintendo might not like having a vulgar game like GTA on their system. But if it means better things like support from them for the NX, then they'll have to do it. Whether they like it or not.

Actually, I founds this from a little over 2 years ago, that indicates that they might.

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/09/03/bethesda-nintendo-needs-better-support-for-third-party-devs

If all the rumors out of Japan, and now this news of them meeting with EA is anything to go by, they are doing what Bethsda has been saying they should for years. Bethesda, just want's Nintendo to actually talk with them when it comes to their consoles (as well as have a console that's actually powerful enough to run the games they want to make). They want to put their games on the systems, but Nintendo needs to be willing to put the effort in to actually help them do it.

We also know that Nintendo, well Monolith anyway, has a fair bit of respect for Bethesda, as their games where one of the inspirations for Xenoblade Chronicles X, so I could see Nintendo going after them

Another thing that is appealing to people that play sports games is being able to have a good experience playing those games with their buddies online, so I really hope that EA also makes a point to push Nintendo into improving their online service.

@charizard1605:

If this are EA demands, then what to expect from other 3rd party developers?

Sounding good...but doesn't mean anything till it comes to fruition. :P

Uh...

-Bayonetta?

-House of the Dead: Overkill?

-AVGN Adventures?

-BloodRayne?

-Manhunt?

-Conker?

Nintendo's in a weakened position. Beggars can't be choosers, so it's to be expected that third parties are going to play their hands hard and if Nintendo says no, say, "well, best of luck then". This is why I don't hold out much hope for third parties because I don't think Nintendo's one to concede.

@charizard1605: That's the first sign bro. FIFA, madden, NBA, NHL. Big 3rd party must haves. This gives me big hope minty has said "enough. Let's add what the others get to what only we have"

On topic: I'm not sure if I should believe it.

I wouldn't say they're on super good terms. Other than Skylanders what does Activision offer besides poultry games to the Wii U and even the 3DS? Same with Ubisoft.

Nintendo shall bring us what a "console" is meant to be , perfect first-party titles alongside third-party support with solid Online infrastructure ....and of course capable of 1080p/60fps.

Or just a Nintendo console with proper BC but BETTER online infrastructure....i'd grab it.

Nintendo's goal isn't to please 3rd party developers, their goal is to please the consumer, in which are gamers. How do you attract gamers? By trying to get all games from at least every different genre.

@mjorh: Nintendo is shaping up to have very strong First party launch titles: Hopefully a 2D Metroid or Metroid Prime 4 (I know it will happen); a Mario game; Zelda Wii U for NX (I don't know); possibly FF7R and FF15; Dragon Quest 11; The project Sakurai is going to work on; A high budget PS4 game; Pikmin 4 (if not, it's a Wii U title); possibly a port of Smash 4 for NX (possibly with Ice Climbers); Mario Kart 9?; And a new IP?; and with third party support, if they can actually succeed in getting them on their side, it will be FANTASTIC!

Either way, these are super strong launch titles as well as third party support that could blow away the competition.

But that's my opinion.

This happens every gen. EA will support it with bad ports of their sports games and then give up in 2 years

Spore 2?

Indeed.

There are no worries in terms of first party titles , Nintendo has always been strong on that end. They just need third party support to win the competition.

Money is already set aside for the NX. My body is Reggie.

Hmmmm sounds promising.

The Wii U was the first time it EVER happened. Not even the GameCube got THIS bad of treatment, because at least THAT console got the likes of Sims, James Bond, Harry Potter, and Madden games.

No joke. I hope that Nintendo spits in EAs face. Far too many demands. Nintendo should embrace the japanese support and turn it into great eastern console. Then when EA comes crawling back then Nintendo should consider letting EA make their games on it.

I have to admit, the demands are outrageous as it is, but we can't have all Japanese games in Nintendo's System it needs more diversity. EA maybe arrogant, but they're still the biggest 3rd party publisher in the west.

Hmmmm, I've heard this type of news before every Nintendo system release. Sometimes it's true for 6 months, 1 year, or more then support dies. Nintendo needs to build a system around what 3rd party wants and needs, until they do that it will just be 1st party titles.

The NX is gonna be the first console I buy on launch day, since the Atari jaguar...I am already pumped for the launch event...Go Nintendo....I might not have to buy an extra console to play madden.....

Same thing was said for Wii U. It's no surprise really. I guess it's nice to hear general progress on the NX.

@Chozofication: but does it have teh foliage?

The thing is Nintendo never follows through with these extra functions that are standard on the competition consoles.

I hope EA knows how to beg. Nintendo knows EA has nothing solid to offer. Their sales and versions tend to suck on Nintendo platforms. As one of the largest publishers they even ask others to promote their games for them. They don't think their own games are worth promoting themselves? You can't expect Nintendo to promote your games if they are going to be shit. Especially if that means you are basically promoting the other versions for them. I'm sure Nintendo hasn't forgotten EA's stance last generation and their ludicrous demands. They were very eager to bite the hand that feeds them. Repeatedly, in public even. I hope they understand a Japanese company won't forget that, not in a 100 years.

I don't see how they will compensate for that. Not by being demanding. If they consider themselves to be so special they ought to have something very special to offer on paper that they can't slither away from. I don't see this happening. Otherwise this could be just a way for EA to promote their other versions through the NX. They'd have to tie themselves up on paper and I think they are too damn arrogant to do that. Special demands meet special demands. I can see Nintendo demanding that they get their versions first. And perhaps a quality guarantee before they would advertise it. EA seems unlikely to agree to anything that isn't just good for them. They want money as much as Nintendo does. They behave like a child, and if you want to have a serious discussion that needs to change first.

It's an "insult" to EA if Nintendo don't bundle their games with their console. This thread made me dislike EA some more.. It's not like people are going to buy an NX with FIFA rather than Sony's next console with FIFA anyway. PlayStation is the FIFA console and has been for years. A few choose the Xbox for this, but I highly doubt anyone is gonna game EA Sports games with their buddies on a Nintendo console. It just wont happen.

Nintendo and EA couldn't be any more different.

For one, Nintendo still tries to make polished and complete games. EA stopped doing that a long time ago.

For two, Nintendo's games still put fun first and foremost. I can't remember the last game EA made that was made with the idea "Fun" behind it.

And let us not forget how last gen EA was like: "Hey Nintendo, give us your online infrastructure" to which Nintendo kindly replied: "**** off"

@MirkoS77: "This is why I don't hold out much hope for third parties because I don't think Nintendo's one to concede."

Is this why Nintendo haven't had strong 3rd party support since the SNES days?