EA to release "major MMO" in spring 2011

By Oli Welsh Published 12 January, 2010

Star Wars: Old Republic the likely candidate.

EA chief executive John Riccitiello has said that the publisher is planning to release a "major MMO" in "spring 2011".

It seems likely that Riccitiello was referring to BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic, a joint venture with LucasArts. The other unreleased massively multiplayer games on EA's slate are less conventional and scheduled for 2010 releases: Realtime Worlds' subscription-free online action game APB, and the free-to-play Need for Speed: World Online.

"One key driver is going to be the launch date of our major MMO," Riccitiello said in an investor conference call (thanks Shacknews). "As it stands today, the game is making great progress towards a spring 2011 launch.

"But given the volatility of this particular sector and the fact that we haven't yet provided a specific launch date, at least for now, we're excluding the revenue, or will be excluding the revenue, from our FY11 plans."

GameSpot asked an EA rep if Riccitiello was talking about The Old Republic and was told, "No further comment beyond what John said. This wasn't a comment about a specific franchise, but a notation on how we are building a plan and guidance for the next fiscal year."

Star Wars: The Old Republic is considered the first credible threat to Activision Blizzard's World of Warcraft, whose immense revenues Riccitiello presumably eyes with envy - so it would make sense for him to refer to it as "our major MMO". Many thought it might see the light of day in late 2010, but EA, LucasArts and BioWare have never previously given any indication on its release date.

Of course, it could be that EA has another MMO project in the works that it hasn't told anyone about yet.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • optimusprym8 #1 2 years ago

    FIFA Online probably, or Grand Theft Tiger Woods

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #2 2 years ago

    If it is indeed ToR at least Blizzard can hold off Cata until Q3 at least so at least it'll be working not bug ribben and unbalanced for the first 6 months as it's a major change in the core of the game...

    If not - spore Online or Sims Online 2 anyone?

    Added: Just noticed the 'FY11' bit so baically thats starting April THIS year (yes those busness types have wacky calinders) so it may in fact mean EA ARE going hed to head with Blizzard - This is what happens when you read acticles WITH coffee later on :)
    Edited by 2 at 12/01/10 @ 10:23

  • darkmorgado #3 2 years ago

    @Kremlik,

    He actually specifically states Spring 2011 though, so in this case at least the FY11 thing isn't relevant, though I agree that companies often do use Fiscal Years in their statements to confuse people as to their release scheduling.

    I'm looking forward to the Old Republic, and it does look very interesting (though do we really want it to be fully voiced? Seriously? 3,000+ quests, fully voiced, with NPCs saying "go and kill X amount of this" or "bring me X amount of Y"! It would get tedious very quickly unless you could skip it). But although it looks excellent I doubt even EA would have the confidence to release against Cataclysm.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #4 2 years ago

    @dark - bit of a shame as everyone is 'waiting' for either that, Cata or FFXIV to come out every other MMO(ish) game out this year seems to feel like it's 'until X', theres only a handful that seem stable past the first 6 months, which makes things wrose as 'set dates' from MMOs can extend to 6 months to 2 years after said date.

    The MMO market has been utterly screwed since the 'WoW boom', it's hard to find that 'new' game that wont turn into a throwaway cashcow big IPs and new ones getting so battered and ruined by this 'MMO = money', I dought it'll ever stop, we need that one game to break the cycle and be 'good enough' to make everyone step back and think about how they build their games because atm it just feels like it's 'create, milk, burn' MMO gaming

  • cianchristopher #5 2 years ago

    I didn't know that APB was "subscription-free".

    What's the business model, then?

  • Byblos1 #6 2 years ago

    World of Warcraft: Cataclysm delayed until Spring 2011 then?

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #7 2 years ago

    @cian - last I heard it was running a 'DDO-est' model so it was either cashshop or sub.. EA must have seen the 'success' of Freerealms and achknowlaged BF:Heroes' cashshop boom and disided to milk that market - Dunno how it'll play out it's a little hit and miss with EA's DLC thinking atm so dunno how it will play out with the cashshop market

    @By - if so that'll be 'waiting for TBC' all over again - I highly dought it as now basically Blizzard have practically given the second highest teir gear away to everyone and ICC is the only 'new' content left to do - Still saying thats a late Q1/early Q2 release
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/10 @ 11:18

  • hiddenranbir #8 2 years ago

    I didn't know that APB was "subscription-free".

    What's the business model, then?

    Well it is a modern city so billboards for advertising could be one thing. And then probably optional buys for customisation. Because APB has the most powerful character customiser ever. Think you can also design cars, objects and other stuff. Maybe something working around that.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #9 2 years ago

    @hidden - so it is basically IS Sims Online 2: GTA editition

  • skullstorm #10 2 years ago

    @Dark TOR is most likely just going to be just KOTOR but online. I'm doubting its going to be a fully fledged mmorpg as I don't think that system could work well with the idea to have it extremely story based. From the very little information they have showed us it looks like its gonna be online (possibly massively) but heavily instanced single player-like gameplay with 'co-op' options. But I guess everyones gonna see it differently (see: people wanting swg 2).

    @krem I agree that mmo's have been screwed since the boom. Theres no passion for the genre anymore and its leading to rushed, half thought out ideas stretched thin across the current wow template. Developers need to take a big step back with their state of mind and market intentions to pre-wow days and realise that mmo's are still quite a niche. They could see some really healthy numbers if they nail it, maybe around 500k-ish (which is great for an mmo) instead of aiming for millions and being left with hundreds.

    WoW is a fluke and an incredible one at that, they (probably) aimed for the mmorpg market in development and somehow ended up with everyone. It's a fluke that cannot be replicated so devs should stop trying and start making real games.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #11 2 years ago

    @Skull - Yea after getting heavily burnted by EA/Mythic's 'version' of Warhammer it's hard not to look at any IP and think 'this may bomb because they want too much from it' - the problem is twofold like WAR many would have still stuck around with at least the RVR side if there was still a population, but a vast marjority look at MMO's with 'WoW tinted glasses', it's like to them NOTHING could be better, yea if your first EVER date was a rich supermodel, ofc they would be 'the best' to everyone else, people SO need to get it out of their heads, WoW is NOT the standard for MMOs, it's the exception.

  • Murton #12 2 years ago

    I think it's a little off the mark to refer to WoW as a fluke. Blizzard have so many fanatical followers that any game they release at any price will be a best seller whether it's any good or not. Personally I saw WoW as a poor man's Everquest, a sort of teenage approach to the fantasy MMO, it certainly isn't anything new or exciting but no-one can really deny its success.

    APB looks interesting, last I heard the business model hadn't been finalised but there have been hints towards possible in game advertising, which would be cool by me as it would make the world more "real". Microstransactions offering new customisation options for your character, vehicles, weapons etc or perhaps something similar to the Guild Wars model with regular retail expansions every few months.

    As far as TOR is concerned, I'm still torn over what to think of it. I was hoping for something like the original SWG as Raph Koster made it but it looks more like your typical modern fantasy MMORPG but with voices and storyline. Hopefully we'll learn more of TOR over the coming year but right now I don't know what to think, if it was The New Republic I'd be totally psyched for it but The Old Republic? I found the lore of that particular era rather boring compared to the Galactic Civil War and the events after Return of the Jedi, as anyone who's read Timothy Zahn's "Thrawn Series" will certainly agree.