EA used to host an E3 press conference every summer before the transition to separate live events known as EA Play. The events under the EA Play umbrella would happen around the same time, they just weren’t a part of E3.
Many fans criticized the EA press conferences for a lack of gameplay. EA would often fill the show with developer diaries, which doesn’t sound too bad, but some fans would tune in to see substantial gameplay footage from their favorite franchises. A lot of players also had no interest in the sports games that were a big part of the show. However, it seems like EA Play Live 2021 was well-received, as the show ended with the announcement of a Dead Space remake. Unfortunately, it’s now confirmed that EA Play will not be returning this year.
IGN revealed that EA will not host an EA Play event in 2022, and the publisher will seemingly focus on sharing information separately for each game. In a statement to IGN, EA states that it won’t be possible to have a singular show that features all the major games currently under development. EA mentions that its studios are working on games that will excite the audience, and it will reveal more about these titles when the time is right.
From the statement, it looks like EA will have smaller events throughout the year for each of its biggest releases. This doesn’t seem too different from how Sony manages some State of Play events, which are sometimes focused on a single game. This is not limited to first-party games either, as Sony had earlier announced a 20-minute State of Play for Hogwarts Legacy on March 17.
The industry is constantly facing the effects of the ongoing pandemic, and it’s probably extremely difficult to host a single show that features most of EA’s biggest franchises. Indeed, there are a lot of exciting games currently under development at EA’s studios. BioWare is working on the next games in the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises, while Respawn Entertainment has its hands full with three Star Wars games. These are just some of the projects that have been announced, and EA probably has a lot more titles in various stages of development.
Fans who are eagerly anticipating this year’s press conferences still have plenty to look forward to in the summer. Most notably, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest will return this year, and it will probably end up being another 3+ hour-long show filled with exciting games.
Source: IGN