14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts is still quite confident in the "strong tail" exhibited by last-generation consoles like the PS3 or Xbox 360, as there are plenty of consumers who are now jumping into console gaming. As such, EA wants to keep selling them new, full-price games in addition to older, classic ones with lower price tags.
The PS4 and Xbox One new-generation consoles have been around for over one year and both have sold by the tens of millions all around the world. This great rate of adoption is prompting plenty of developers to focus on the new devices, in detriment to the old PS3 or Xbox 360.
EA is still confident in the old consoles
However, EA is still reluctant to abandon the old consoles, as the long tail exhibited by the platforms, not to mention the ever increasing sales figures, keeps them quite attractive.
According to EA Chief Operating Officer Peter Moore, via GamesIndustry, it's very easy to make a profit from the old consoles, especially since EA has a huge portfolio filled with titles for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
"We're entering the ninth year of the cycle. I think we're seeing a strong tail. I think both Sony and Microsoft, to their credit, are providing support behind their current gen. There's a great portfolio of titles that stretches back 9 years, and the hardware is great value for the money for consumers that haven't jumped in yet on console hardware."
The PS3 and Xbox 360 will continue to sell well
EA also emphasizes that the PS3 and Xbox 360 are benefiting from plenty of great deals, so a lot of customers who haven't bought such consoles until now will be tempted to invest in them and, most importantly, in games for them, where EA hopes to make a big profit through its recognizable franchises.
"During the year there were roughly three million old generation consoles sold here in the US and half of that came in the last 2 months of the year. Obviously, Christmas discounting probably drove a lot of that and if you're buying a console for the first time there's a high probability that you're going to go buy FIFA or Madden or Battlefield or Need for Speed," EA's Chief Financial Officer, Blake Jorgensen, adds.
All recent titles from EA have appeared on both old and new consoles, and it seems that this trend will continue at least in 2015.