EA has signed a multi-year deal with Disney to secure the exclusive rights to the development and global publishing of new Star Wars games.
Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm and, with it, the rights to Star Wars last year for $4.05 billion, will retain "certain rights" to develop new titles within the mobile, social, tablet and online game categories.
"Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe," said EA Labels President Frank Gibeau, who confirmed that Battlefield developer DICE will be among those working on new Star Wars games.
"Three of our top studios will fulfill that dream, crafting epic adventures for Star Wars fans," he said. "DICE and Visceral will produce new games, joining the BioWare team which continues to develop for the Star Wars franchise. The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay."
Disney Interactive co-president said, "This agreement demonstrates our commitment to creating quality game experiences that drive the popularity of the Star Wars franchise for years to come.
"Collaborating with one of the world's premier game developers will allow us to bring an amazing portfolio of new Star Wars titles to our fans around the world."
The deal comes in the wake of Disney having shut down the video game publishing arm of LucasArts, just five months after its acquisition of the Lucasfilm subsidiary. Reports claimed that both of the studio's projects - Star Wars 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault - were cancelled outright.
While Lucasfilm at the time suggested that LucasArts' projects could be rescued via a licensing deal with an external developer, today's announcement made no mention of whether any part of the shelved projects will be picked up by EA.
Comments
71 comments so far...
EvilDog77 on 6 May '13 said:
To quote Darth Vader: "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
Jigster1 on 6 May '13 said:
I thought EA weren't going to make Licensed games any more!
Drusus on 6 May '13 said:
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
billybouffant on 6 May '13 said:
If it means Battlefront 3 and 1313 get released, then I'll gladly cheer for EA
TheLastDodo on 6 May '13 said:
Visceral will create a Star Wars themed two player co-op shooter called Army of Chew.........bacca.
I'll get my coat.
charliecheswick on 6 May '13 said:
Good lord,i can see it now,there'll be a micro-transaction to buy a pink cod-piece for C3P0.
patiotom on 6 May '13 said:
Looks like i wont be buying a Star Wars game any time soon!!! EA have seen far too much of my money on half done games with enforced multiplayer and micro transaction waffle!!
Barry316 on 6 May '13 said:
They might get Bioware working on a KoToR 3. Probably won't, but you can hope eh.
1Nightmare1 on 6 May '13 said:
I know EA is not the most favorite company among gamers, but this sounds better than the former alternative which is a dark void. This opens up a possibility of Battlefront 3, 1313 coming back, and maybe be a sequel for KOTOR.
Imaduck on 6 May '13 said:
f**k
GlynCR on 6 May '13 said:
the star wars licence has been f**ked for years so let EA do there worst
toaplan on 6 May '13 said:
Yea, Bioware to do KoToR 3, DICE could make Battlefront 3, Visceral could take on the abandoned "1313"... how about that?
Gambini on 6 May '13 said:
Exactly! Who knows, maybe we'll get a frostbite powered battlefront 3 *drool*
metallicorphan on 6 May '13 said:
and to think i have been desperately wanting a new Star Wars Battlefront game for the past 8 years.....and this is the compromise?..not really sure i want one now
Not even sure where people are getting off that DICE are good for Star Wars Battlefront....ahoy,First Person and not Third and First,DLC for weapon add-ons,vehicles overpowered on every map,heroes of the movies sticking their noses in and taking centre stage and the grand finale......season passes
Terrible News
alan666 on 6 May '13 said:
The last decent Star Wars game was Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the Xbox/PC, i knew this was going to happen when it was announced Disney were getting their hands on Star Wars.
Guess with it being EA there will be no WiiU or 3DS games either.
DiamondDogs on 6 May '13 said:
Bring back Rogue Squadron EA, and I'll purchase my first game from you since World Cup '98 on the N64.
Edit* I forgot EA don't like Nintendo anymore. Never mind.
Barca Azul on 6 May '13 said:
So.......EA could make an Evil empire! A game I mean!
DiamondDogs on 6 May '13 said:
I love all the comments on this article. Brilliant.
Beetle Bum on 6 May '13 said:
DARK DAYS INDEED. THIS IS A MASSIVE DISTURBANCE
Audest_Oggust on 6 May '13 said:
Jesus, first people complain because there will be no more Star Wars games, then people complain because one of the most successful companies in the industry acquired the rights to making those Star Wars games. Everyone that's complaining about this is a stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder.
Manjushri on 6 May '13 said:
Oh for f**ks sake.
E.A = enormous assholes.
Good by Star wars, thanks for all the good memorys.
Edit ; this has just handed EA the ability to print money.
Jingee on 6 May '13 said:
I suppose Disney want EA's crown of 'Worst company in America" then.
metallicorphan on 6 May '13 said:
FTFY
Fr33Kye on 6 May '13 said:
And EA are a massive company, they don't have some personal vendetta against nintendo. Their allegiance is to money.
CDS on 6 May '13 said:
Well, I knew this was going to happen.
It was inevitable.
Still, as long as EA take a new direction purely for the Star Wars games then the games will be good. What they need to do is reboot old franchises and bring them to the newer generation. That means Battlefront, and other games like Rouge Squadron, KotOR, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, and maybe new games like First Assault and 1313.
I only wonder whether there will be any announcements - even if they haven't got anything to show yet - at the EA conference during E3.
Target Renegade on 6 May '13 said:
"I've got a bad feeling about this!"
steve_2003 on 6 May '13 said:
Ok, what's the betting that the first we hear of Electronic Arts plans for Star Wars, are at the Next Generation Xbox event. Those Microsoft bucks, interest in 3rd party exclusives (or timed exclusives) and close ties with EA could be advantageous.
*I'm not saying it's a good thing, just saying that it would make sense for Microsoft.
billysastard on 6 May '13 said:
actually they do and its all about the money they wont be getting for running the nintendo online infrastructure.
KMakawa on 6 May '13 said:
Hehe, I love people referring to EA as the worst company in America. It's as though all those foreclosures, debt refusals and oil mercs dont mean that much.
In any case, I think its quite fantastic news - not only because its more Star Wars but the thought of Star Wars by DICE on Frostbite 3 seems a little overpowered. Battlefield style multiplayer in a Star Wars setting? Hell yeah - ill take that.
I look forward to seeing if the rumor regarding EA and Xbox are true in a few week, ontop of that.. E3 is looking even more awesome now.
Imaduck on 6 May '13 said:
I'm not so much p**sed that Star Wars games will be made again, more just sickens me that you only really get to choose EA or Acti these days and they're all wankers. The best you can hope for is that EA won't totally f**k us over. More frustrated by the state of gaming in general.
budge on 6 May '13 said:
EA should be on the phone to BioWare right now. KotOR 3 please, motherf**kers!
Gameoholic007 on 6 May '13 said:
This ought to be good(sarcasm). Lets see how long it takes before EA fouls up this franchise.
Giomanach on 6 May '13 said:
you mean like every other company in the world
Fr33Kye on 6 May '13 said:
....yes. Yes i do.
BlueScorpion91 on 6 May '13 said:
Have you been asleep for the last 10-15 year? Everyone hates the prequels(I personally like Episode 1 & 3) so that frigged the film, The Force Unleashed games are crap, they had that aweful animated childrens series, and they had Han Solo dancing in a Kinect game, I doubt EA are really going to do much harm to the brand.
I'm pleased by this news, EA know what makes a good and successful game and have many great studios capable of doing it for Star Wars. And I hope Disney give them the right to make a game(s) based around the original trilorgy. How utterly brilliant would that be. Or a game based on Episode 1. Would love to do some pod racing or battle Darth Maul.
________________ on 6 May '13 said:
No disintegrations..
Fr33Kye on 6 May '13 said:
Link? Wasn't that some uncomfirmed rumor? They also aren't running the online infrastructure for playstation, or xbox or h devices. Aren't there games even on steam? Do you seem them jumping at the chance to release games for the vita? Is it because they are angry there is no origin? Or because they just don't see it as particularly worth the effort yet...EA aren't a child throwing a tantrum, they are a massive company with lots of moving parts.They are even under new management. They can't even be evil, they just do what corporations do. Ever if it's true that they wanted to run nintendo's online infrastructure, that doesn't change the fact that if they thought it would make them money, they would be there.
This is just more nintendo fans blaming every shortcoming of a nintendo console on third parties. Oh it's third parties that released the 3ds way too early. It's their lack of creativity that prevented them from all jumping on the wii like the revolution it was. It's because nintendo games are just too gosh darned great for them to compete right?
Alaann on 6 May '13 said:
this is good news for me dice will do a decent fps im thinking a bf3 mod,bioware an rpg,im not sure which studio will do battlefront maybe dice can try an fps/tps combo I know they dont have much experence with tps but the tanks and aircraft in battlefield can be controlled in fps or tps,but atleast the francise is out of lucasarts games hands so the games will see the light of day
Rothepony on 6 May '13 said:
It's a trap!!
________________ on 6 May '13 said:
I hope they realise the big money is in the flight simulations.
drunkadin on 7 May '13 said:
Yeah guys. I'm with you. How many awesome, deep, and well-worked ips is EA going to ruin on their chopping block with poor management, a preternatural lust for money above all else and no soul?!!!!
Oh, it's star wars and disney.
TerrorK on 7 May '13 said:
I wouldn't want modern BioWare near a third KotOR game. I'd prefer Obsidian or somebody else do it who actually WANT to make RPGs. BioWare would just give you a voiced, named protagonist, have barely any real choices because they don't want their story and cinematics ruined by player agency and make it too much about the combat these days.
MattyR95 on 7 May '13 said:
Can't be worse than what we've already had!
richomack360 on 7 May '13 said:
http://dreamteamtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/sundaykneejerk.jpg
moogiesboy on 7 May '13 said:
I'm hearing that EA also get to build their own Deathstar and Frank Gibeau gets to stride around the workplace like Darth Vader whenever he wants.
Gemini40 on 7 May '13 said:
The vocal minority dooming an EA Star Wars game before we know anything about it. How refreshing.
Miserable bastards.
MisterBedo on 7 May '13 said:
You're clearly forgetting about Star Wars: Angry Birds
murph_77 on 7 May '13 said:
Does this mean Star Wars 1313 will now see the light of day? Will we see a Star Wars FPS from dice on the Frostbite 2 engine? Will it mean EA will cock things up? Stay tuned for the answers.
Barry316 on 7 May '13 said:
I'd personally rather have a game with an ending that some people moan about than a broken unfinished Obsidian one.
Im_Money on 7 May '13 said:
I want to be excited as we might finally see a new Battlefront, but with it being EA I worry that it won't be the Battlefront we've come to love... They're still after CoD right? That is what bothers me =/ the loss of the Battlefront identity.
weston22 on 7 May '13 said:
ea doesn't half get some hate activision are far far worse!
ted1138 on 7 May '13 said:
Sounds like a perfect fit, EA, and the Empire...
Stigweird85 on 7 May '13 said:
Sigh, I hate "exclusive" deals. It just leads to laziness. Why bother making an effort if you know you are locked into a contract? Personally I would love if Disney has some clause in the contract where is whatever was released didn't perform to an acceptable standard(NOT METACRITIC which is biased and weighted to certain outlets) then the licence reverts back. It wouldn't guarantee brilliance but should reduce any crap being published.
I expect yearly FPS clones now and a stormtrooper skin in BF:4
EA has the studios who can produce quality content but recently it looks like EA want to out their way to spoil it but making "executive decisions" that all games must have x+y. Casing points. Forced multiplayer, always online, rushed releases.
EA has the Star Wars license, they produced TOR, An MMO sequel to an RPG. It cost too much to produce and didn't please any of their target markets and went to what some call a busted F2P model at an alaraming rate.
I'm sure that there will be a diamond in the rough somewhere(throw enough 5hit at the wall and something wil stick) but I expect there to be a lot of "ok" games coming.
Ertan Ertigan on 7 May '13 said:
my thoughts exactly. visceral is a great choice for star wars, and a bioware developed kotor 3 (even if it ended up like another mass effect) would be most welcome. criterion wasn't mentioned, but supposedly they want to take a break from racing...
more kotor, more republic commando...however, the priority remains securing a future for 1313.
DUBBA JAYTEE on 7 May '13 said:
Battlefront 3 in Frostbite 3.0 and a new KOTOR should come out of this. For now, I am on board. For everyone moaning about EA, they are hardly the devils they are portrayed as by casual gamers. Besides, at this point, as long as they don't put dancing Stormtroopers in their game,
they are one step ahead of Lucasarts.
illage2 on 7 May '13 said:
O_O EA and Disney .... working together......
Right ..... ladies and gentlemen, its time to load up our shotguns, sharpen our pitchforks and light out torches, we need to BURN THEM BOTH TO THE GROUND! Two bad companies working together cannot be allowed!
ninja-key on 7 May '13 said:
Dead Space Tatooine Edition
The Marker Lands on Tatooine turns sandpeople into necromophs
Gemini40 on 7 May '13 said:
Two bad companies? Not really.
DavidG on 7 May '13 said:
did anyone else's blood run cold at the mention of EA?
If we get a decent console RPG, or a new Rogue Squadron (imagine the size of those space battles) and if they actually put some effort into it and don't try and cripple it with season pass's, forced co-op, microtransactions and yearly releases, then maybe I would get excited but for some reason I sense great fear from this announcement.
only_777 on 7 May '13 said:
I think you're all looking at this wrong.
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/p480x480/428536_551061428278796_224314105_n.jpg
FIFA + Star Wars
Let's just think about that....
KK-Headcharge78 on 7 May '13 said:
This, it's hardly like past Star Wars games have great on the whole. EA may be a monolithic money making machine but they do make the odd good game.
HelloLadies on 7 May '13 said:
I hope Disney's contract is structured in such a way that if displeased they can bend EA over a barrel and give them a taste of their own medicine.
MrPirtniw on 7 May '13 said:
Sod Rogue Squadron- always thought those games were too simplistic. I'd like to see more X-wing Vs Tie Fighter with cutting edge graphics and of course immense space battles!
But I doubt EA have the balls to publish any space combat games.
Barca Azul on 7 May '13 said:
"Interesting smell you have discovered!"
Mastermue on 7 May '13 said:
Oh crap.
richomack360 on 7 May '13 said:
This x 1,000,000, Rogue Sq was fun too though !
It's amazing though isn't it - people want 1313 as it has a "grittier" edge, but berate other modern shooters (or Fuse) for being gritty !
No pleasing some folks !
HelloLadies on 8 May '13 said:
In truth there is a difference between "gritty" and "generic".
yuzi87 on 8 May '13 said:
Fed up of the standard blue light sabre?
Why not buy the green/red/purple/yellow version.
Only 800ms points
sonic_uk on 8 May '13 said:
No, its impossible! Nnnnoooooooooooo!
Welcome to the dark side.
richomack360 on 8 May '13 said:
In the Oxford dictionary yes, in gaming not so much (sadly)
*turns to look out of the window in a philosophical manner
Gemini40 on 8 May '13 said:
Considering all the other possible publishers that would have been up for consideration I really don't think EA are the worst choice. Much rather EA than Ubisoft or Activsion.