EA admits COD and Halo will rule 2010

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 4 August, 2010

But has FPS crown in its sights.

EA COO John Schappert has admitted Activision Blizzard's behemoth Call of Duty and Microsoft's all-conquering Halo will remain top FPS dogs this year - but insisted they won't be so for long.

Schappert said 2010 FPS games Medal of Honor and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will help EA gain ground in the genre, but next year and beyond will be when the sparks truly fly.

Both Call of Duty: Black Ops and Halo: Reach are expected to set tills ringing this Christmas. Last night EA delayed FPS Crysis 2 to early next year. And last weekend it confirmed the existence of Battlefield 3, which will be released some time after April 2011.

"Between Battlefield and Medal of Honor, we're going to see a substantial increase in our share against the FPS sector in calendar year '10 versus '09, '08, '07, '06, pick the year," Schappert said during the publisher's earnings call yesterday, transcribed by Seeking Alpha.

"We've got a shot at getting back into a leadership position over the next couple of years.

"And just watch this space for news we bring you on future titles, sort of in calendar '11 and beyond.

"But make no mistake, we think we've got the people and the brands to take the leadership back in the FPS space. And we're intending to make a good positive share gain this year. I think that's almost a foregone conclusion that we'll get the share gain.

But, "I don't expect to topple either Halo or COD this year."

Schappert's bullish comments followed CEO John Riccitiello's own confident prediction that upcoming Afghanistan shooter Medal of Honor, which will include beta invites for Battlefield 3, will impress this October.

"We feel very good about Medal of Honor," he said.

"It received a lot of nominations and awards from E3. People are very excited about it. We also just announced the Battlefield 3 beta will be included in the limited edition version of Medal of Honor.

"So even more people are talking and excited about that.

"So while there will be certainly stiff competition this holiday, as there always is in the FPS category, we think the investment we've made with our EALA team making single-player and DICE making multiplayer should pay off handsomely."

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • schnide #1 2 years ago

    I love you EA! And I feel dirty!

  • randompanda #2 2 years ago

    I thought we weren't allowed to talk about Battlefield 3?

  • geeza2020 #3 2 years ago

    You're allowed to talk about battlefield 3 if you have invested sufficient funds into EA products and services.

  • beastmaster #4 2 years ago

    I honestly don't think they've got a chance with MOH. Much as I'd like to see them tear Activision a new one, Halo and COD are going to make more money than god.

  • CaptainQuint #5 2 years ago

    If they want to unseat the likes of Halo and CoD they're gonna have to come up with something far more convincing than a MoH reboot. Good luck to 'em, but I don't see it happening any time in the near future.

  • Skooch #6 2 years ago

    MoH, Battlefield and Crysis - not a bad line-up for EA's attempt at stealing the FPS crown.

  • KayJay #7 2 years ago

    @beastmaster "I honestly don't think they've got a chance with MOH."
    Is that not just what he said?

    "Medal of Honor and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will help EA gain ground"

    He isant expecting to blow them away, it a nice open and honest comment. And if you have played BC2 you wouldnt disagree with the fact they have already gained ground.

    I honestly find it hard to see anyone or anything overtaking COD or Halo. They are good at what they do and the following is rather large.
    Its going to take time but EA are heading in the right direction me thinks.

  • TVoJ #8 2 years ago

    I think they're spot on with this prediction. Forget MoH, with Crysis 2 and BF3 they have th most antisapated games left to come out (OK maybe Halo Reach is up there).
    But if anyone thinks CoD will survive after the next installment you are off it!

    Surely the mainstream gamers will realise they're being fed the same tripe year after year?? Surely.

  • RedSparrows #9 2 years ago

    What, and then buy MoH as a replacement, and continue the whole sorry business?

    Crysis 2 is the only one that looks like it'll be really, really good.

  • Raznilof #10 2 years ago

    Having seen the presentation during Microsofts presser and being completely underwhelmed by what looked pretty much like another rail shooter (black ops) I would agree that EA is on the right track indeed.

    I quite love what DICE has been doing, though think the Bad Company (1) was the superior (single player) game with setting, cast, story and gameplay making sense together. BC2 felt as much a rail shooter (with destruction) as the call of duty games.

    But the multi player, oh the glorious multi player, they have already surpassed CoD as far as I am concerned.

  • metalangel #11 2 years ago

    I don't know why they're bothering with MoH to be honest... everyone loves BC2 and wants the bigger, badder BF3, now. Ooh-rahing our way through a scripted lightshow just doesn't hold the same appeal.

  • glaeken #12 2 years ago

    I also find it odd they are bothering with MOH. Certainly when you find out its using the BC2 engine for multiplayer but they have taken out the destructible environments. When I heard that I was lost for words. Taking out BC2's killer feature is quite simply nuts. It of course differentiates MOH from BC2 but by making it a lesser game.

    EA would be far better off I think concentrating on the BF franchise and forgetting MOH.

  • androidave #13 2 years ago

    I'm sure MoH is going to be a good game if your into that kind if thing, but there not going to get anywhere just by copying COD.. its already becoming to much like the same thing every year imo, if they want to take the fps crown then they need to do something completely different to COD or Halo..

  • WizenWolfBain #14 2 years ago

    All they really need to do is get Battlefield 3 right. BF2 was a PC epic and BF3 has the potential to rip Activision a new anus.

    It's been a long time coming. BF2 is one of the only PC games that i still play from all those years ago. And it's still fun :)
    Edited by WizenWolfBain at 04/08/10 @ 14:03

  • evilrobot #15 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 22:12:53 08-05-2012

  • dingo75 #16 2 years ago

    War... War never ends.

  • The_Inquisitor #17 2 years ago

    I think MOH has a good chance of taking a big bite of the FPS pie. For those who dismiss the multiplayer as just BC2 without destruction, well perhaps I, who still enjoys MW2 every now and then (for my sins) yet has never been able to get into BC2, may be able to provide hope that it will be a different kettle of fish because I love the MOH Beta, it's such a refreshing change from COD yet with the upbeat pace that I require.
    Edited by The_Inquisitor at 05/08/10 @ 00:12

  • Triggerhappytel #18 2 years ago

    Get Black 2 in development, EA. It'll be a little different to most of the other big FPSs, and the first one was almost brilliant.

  • MinerWilly #19 2 years ago

    Maybe they haven't overtaken Cod in terms of sales but in terms of gameplay Battlefield has been top of the multiplayer tree since 2002 . CoD , Halo , FIFA , Need for Speed reek of casual uninformed gamers . Kind of like the people who buy an Iphone because they have to idea that there are better cheaper alternatives like a Samsung Galaxy S or HTC Desire .

  • Rens11 #20 2 years ago

    battlefield nov 2011 medel of honor 2 nov 2012 any chance?