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EA says stereoscopic 3D "isn't a major factor" as tech fails to turn up at Sony press conferences

"It's just not a technology particularly in our world of gaming that seems to have got traction."

Has stereoscopic 3D video gaming died? For EA, one of the biggest and most influential game publishers in the world, it's not even worth considering.

Two years ago Sony invested heavily in 3D, and as Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter pointed out in an article published earlier this year: "It was supposed to be The Next Big Thing - a perfect storm of movies, TV and games."

But stereo 3D seems to have dropped off the radar for even PlayStation after it failed to make an appearance during the company's E3 and Gamescom press conferences - this after showing parts of its 2010 and 2011 press conferences in 3D.

In a 2010 interview with Eurogamer, then EA Sports chief Peter Moore expressed his scepticism about stereo 3D. Now, as EA COO, Moore and his company are even less enthusiastic.

"And what an oracle I seem like!" he told Eurogamer.

"3D is certainly not in any way on our list of things we are focused upon as a company. I look at gaming, and it just doesn't seem to be a major factor.

"I'm always impressed when I go home to the UK by how many people watch TV in 3D. Much more so than in the US. The Olympics was available in 3D. I bet it wasn't available in 3D in the US.

"It's just not a technology particularly in our world of gaming that seems to have got traction. If I was sceptical 18 months ago I remain sceptical."

EA's stance on 3D is, on the whole, reflected by much of the game industry. Apart from Sony, which implemented stereoscopic 3D into many of its 2011 first-party titles, few publishers have invested in the tech.

For its part, Sony has said it will continue to support stereo 3D. SCEE boss Jim Ryan told CVG at Gamescom that the tech will be included in its games "where it makes sense", and advised we not read too much into its omission from Sony's E3 and Gamescom press conferences.

"We spoke about it at E3 two years ago and everyone put their glasses on for the first time, and the next year we did the same and everyone did it again. Y'know, there comes a time when you don't need to talk about it anymore," he said.