There is somewhat of a general conception among the gaming community that EA does not particularly care for its single-player releases. Some of its recent titles like Battlefield 2042 launched without a single player campaign, for example, seemingly giving evidence to the theory that EA believes that multiplayer is the way forward. However, it appears the publisher may have gone back on its standing about single-player games following a recent statement made during the company's first quarter earnings call.
When asked about how single-player titles currently fit into EA's portfolio, CEO Andrew Wilson spoke about the motivations that make a player pick up a video game. "[Players] have these core motivations," Wilson began. "Inspiration, escape, social connection, competition, self-improvement, creation... And the telling of stories is really important in the fulfillment of some of those motivations." From Wilson's comments, it is quite clear to see that there is a sense of acknowledgement from EA in the success of its recent single-player endeavors. Titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, for example, managed to create a great amount of success for EA, with the game having sold over 10 million units at the time of writing.
Andrew Wilson went on to say that EA considers two things in regard to its portfolio. "One, how can we tell incredible stories? And two, how can we build tremendous online communities?" He then talks about how the amount of time spent within the EA network and within the games is vital to meeting these two conditions, eventually confirming that single-player titles are a "really, really, important part" of EA's portfolio. Looking at some upcoming releases for EA, it appears Wilson's sentiment holds true, as the publisher currently has three major single-player games in the works including the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the Dead Space remake, and Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.
Even with all of these games on the way, it doesn't seem like EA has fully ditched its focus on multiplayer and live-service titles. EA's Chief Financial Officer, Chris Suh, followed Wilson's statement by stating that live-service games account for 70 percent of EA's total business. Suh also confirmed that the company will continue to invest in live-service projects, something which is not necessarily a surprise given how much of the gaming industry believes live-service is the future.
While EA may not be focusing entirely on single-player projects in its portfolio, Andrew Wilson's statement certainly marks a stark contrast from a tweet made by the publisher earlier in the year. Attempting to be a part of a viral meme, EA made a post about gamers who play single player titles that was interpreted as disparaging, and the company received a host of backlash from fans and developers of solo experiences.
Source: VGC