No Xbox Live for Tiger Woods 2005 in Europe

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 September, 2004

But the PAL PS2 version gets online this time.

Electronic Arts has confirmed reports that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 will not feature online support in Europe on Xbox Live, despite the fact that the PS2 version will go online via EA's existing infrastructure. American gamers will enjoy a full suite of options for both versions.

Last year's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 - released long before EA agreed to bring its titles to Xbox Live in any capacity - was roundly criticised in Europe after EA's bizarre decision to strip the title of its online functionality, despite the popularity of the game's online options in the US and the series' enthusiastic following in Europe.

Now it seems EA has decided to let PS2 Online users go online after all, and it's Xbox owners' turn to find themselves looking at their PS2 buddies with green faces. This means that golfing fans of Microsoft's black box must continue to make do with Links 2004, get a PS2, or gather friends round the television if the desire for multiplayer arises. Hopefully next year the situation will sort it self out eh?

"We took a decision to only include Xbox Live support into a selection of our titles in this first year in Europe to ensure that we were able to smoothly roll out the service across Europe. We have four titles supporting Xbox Live this year - Burnout 3, FIFA Football 2005, Need for Speed Underground 2 and GoldenEye: Rogue Agent - and further titles will follow next year," an EA spokesperson told Eurogamer this morning.

"In the US, we have a higher number of titles supporting Xbox Live this year, although a similar process occurred when we rolled out our first online console service last year on PlayStation 2 and expanded that number in the second year. We will look to continue to build on the portfolio of supported online titles through 2005 and beyond and are fully committed to Xbox Live plus other online services."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (17) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sam_spade #1 8 years ago

    Sounds like its a bonus if the Burnout 3 fiasco is anything to go by.

  • Eighthours #2 8 years ago

    We knew this a couple of weeks ago....

    But it's still ridiculous!!!!

  • TipTop #3 8 years ago

    Saves me buying 2005 as the Live functionality would be the only reason really to upgrade from 2004. Bloody silly idea if you ask me.

  • Juninho #4 8 years ago

    /cancels pre-order
    /orders Links 2004 for £15

    Absolute disgrace that is. Can't at all see how they can justify it.

  • Dizzy #5 8 years ago

    >to ensure that we were able to smoothly roll out the service across Europe

    Haha... this is the problem. EA can't even set up some servers, just look at Burnout 3.

    Check out this Penny Arcade's view on EA on Live:
    http://www.penny-arcade. com

  • AnotherMartin #6 8 years ago

    Seems a bit daft having two racing games in there out of the four, surely swaping out NFSU:2 for TW would've made the most sense?

  • Zee-Zed-Zipster #7 8 years ago

    /crosses game off list with big, fat, red marker

  • perilikid #8 8 years ago

    Bah, muppets.

    It's especially cheeky given that MS had to give up on updates to their XSN games to persuade EA to develop for Xbox Live.

    That said, given the choice between TW2005 or Pro Evo on Live, and I know which one I'd pick.

  • onyxbox #9 8 years ago

    if EA's own hybrid XBox live service seen in Burnout 3 is anything to go by: I DON'T WANT IT!

    I don't wan't to pay 30 quid for a sh!t load of stress, getting a game sorted.

  • mingster #10 8 years ago

    Yeah my only experience of EA and online via Xbox has been burnout 3.
    And straight away you'll realise, EA haven't a clue on how it works!
    So they probably stripped the online out of TW to avoid any more emabarrasement.

  • Feanor #11 8 years ago

    "Bah, muppets.

    It's especially cheeky given that MS had to give up on updates to their XSN games to persuade EA to develop for Xbox Live."

    I don't know if that's quite true. Microsoft's XSN games have been crap, sold poorly, and didn't show any signs of getting better.

  • SIDEARM #12 8 years ago

    EA please die

  • #13 8 years ago

    Eurogamer Wrote:
    "Now it seems EA has decided to let PS2 Online users go online after all, and it's Xbox owners' turn to find themselves looking at their PS2 buddies with green faces. This means that golfing fans of Microsoft's black box must continue to make do with Links 2004, get a PS2...."
    I think you'll find it's the PS2 owners looking over at their Xbox buddies, who in November, will be mostly playing a little known game called "Pro Evolution Soccer 4" online over Xbox Live.

    Thats right PS2 buddies!

    You play your Tiger Woods 2005 online, but in November you'll be hearing over the stands "your not singing anymore!"

    Hang on a second. I known both consoles [check]

    Notes to self:

    1. Order Links 2004 for Xbox [today]

    2. Buy PS2 network adapter before September 24th [when TW2005 is released for PS2]

    3. Pre-order TW2005 and enjoy online play on the PS2 [suppose I better get a duster]

    4. Could you make a Tiger Woods beater Konami

  • Kengro #14 8 years ago

    I can't see the problem... Links 2004 will be much better than TW. TW series is too easy, take the hardest setting on links and try. Then you got golf...

  • GTBurns #15 8 years ago

    Utter utter, shite. Hand your head's in shame EA! I'm off to trade TW 2004 for a copy of Links. I've only just bought Burnout 3; but if that turns out to be another Live fiasco, that'll be going back too!

    Have Bush and Cheney got shares in EA? Their foreign policy is every bit as f***ed up as that of their nations 'government'.

    Love golf. Hate Yanks - bring on the Ryder Cup!

  • mule #16 8 years ago

    Rubbish
    /cancels all EA pre orders

    EA took so long to agree to provide a (live) service and now cant even do that (B3) so will take another year to get it right??? NO THANKS!

    **BOYCOTT FIFA 05**

  • pjmaybe #17 8 years ago

    With what they did to Burnout 3 are you SURE you want live support?

    Peej

  • HarryB #18 7 years ago

    EA are all gay, Europe is important