Its High Time We Give EA Credit For Improving Its Single-Player Games

Video games allow you to have fun in multiple ways. You can either play alone, as a single-player experience, or play with your friends online or locally in multiplayer mode. Most of you are already aware of this, but it’s necessary to explain the thing which divides the gaming world into two.

Every player has their own preferences, and that is really fine. Some like to play narrative-driven campaign games, while others enjoy playing multiplayer games with their friends. Having fun is what matters, and you should always play games that you enjoy.

Companies work the same way, as some are better at making single-player games while some do better in live-service games. Many big developers do both and really don’t disseminate between the two types. Of course, that is with the exception of one major company, Electronic Arts.

There have been so many instances when EA has been under fire for its stance on single-player games. It recently targeted players who play only single-player games in a popular trend on Twitter. Even though this was a joke, more than a decade ago, the company’s president out rightly said that single-player games are “finished”.

They’re a 10 but they only like playing single-player games

— Electronic Arts (@EA) June 30, 2022

Hence, EA does have a habit of clashing with the community of players who prefer single-player games. The company gets even more criticism for how loot boxes in its multiplayer games work. Hence, the whole gaming world has a bit of a love-hate relationship with EA.

However, even with their continuous slander for single-player games, EA makes such games all the time. Recently, the output of these games from the company has also been increasing. At least three story-driven single-player games are coming from EA in the next two years or so.

Not only is it making single-player adventures but also basing them on the right formula. Slowly but surely, EA has been improving its story game model and listening to the players, and their future projects show exactly this. However, what made the company move on from its “single-player games are finished” narrative?

The Success of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order:

Before the release of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, EA’s exclusive license of Star Wars games was looking to be in trouble; Star Wars Battlefront II got a lot of criticism for how it used loot boxes, and the players were really dissatisfied. Nearly every Star Wars player wanted the exclusive license to end as soon as possible after the game.

Then, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order came out in 2019, and everyone was taken aback by how EA made this game. It was a single-player action-adventure game with no multiplayer elements, unlike the previous two games. Furthermore. it became an instant success for EA and Respawn Entertainment. 

Players loved the story-driven game structure and the combat system inspired by the Dark Souls franchise. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order received universal critical acclaim from players and critics alike. No one really thought EA could make such a brilliant single-player game after deeming the genre finished.

More importantly, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order was a massive commercial success for EA. As of June 2021, almost 20 million players have played the game, with 10 million copies sold as of May 2020. Huge numbers like these are enough to change anyone’s mind, and EA is no exception.

One more thing:

As of today, more than 20 million players worldwide have played Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order across all consoles, platforms and subscription services.

Thank you, Jedi!

— Respawn (@Respawn) June 11, 2021

One thing we do know about the company is how it focuses a lot on financially viable games. That is why we get a new FIFA installment every year because it sells, and the microtransactions earn a lot of revenue for EA. Having 20 million players play your single-player adventure, similar to Sony exclusives, is as viable as it gets. After seeing how it can make so much from the niche that wasn’t a part of its plans, EA has changed its ideas. If you see the slate of its upcoming games, it is easy to see how.

Future Single-Player Games From EA:

EA is releasing three new single-player games in the next year and so. One of these is the sequel to Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, called Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, and another announcement about an even bigger single-player game may be coming soon if the rumors are true.

The nearest single-player release from EA is the remake of the first Dead Space game. Originally, Dead Space came out in 2008, two years before Frank Gibeau, the President of EA, declared story-driven games finished. Hence, it’s really pleasant to see a game from this franchise make its way to the development board.

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order played a significant role in convincing EA to make this remake. According to Jeff Grubb, an accredited industry insider, the success of EA’s 2019 single-player adventure was important in the company’s decision to greenlight the remake. Hence, we can see the obvious effect that Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order had on EA and its higher-ups.

One of the other single-player games recently announced by EA is Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. This sequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition will be released almost ten years later. EA pushing ahead with this game after so long shows how it is finally not scared of releasing single-player games.

With several single-player games in the works, it’s clear that the company has changed its view towards the genre. Now that it knows it can make itself millions, EA is putting single-player games out in bulk. Furthermore, with the sequel to Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, also releasing soon, it will certainly earn a lot.

There is one other game coming from EA which hasn’t been confirmed but is a persisting rumor; a Black Panther game is coming from the company, according to an accredited industry insider, Jeff Grubb. What makes it special is that this game is also going to be a single-player adventure experience.

Grubb: a Black Panther game is in development

– titled Project Rainier
– developed by the new studio headlined by ex-Monolith VP Kevin Stephens & published by EA
– open-world single-player game where the player becomes the new BP
– early in developmenthttps://t.co/g7qvCDbcq9 pic.twitter.com/IpRPqQrnji

— Nibel (@Nibellion) July 25, 2022

Now, EA could have made it a cooperative or online game, like Marvel’s Avengers from SQUARE ENIX, and follow its multiplayer formula. However, it is instead trying to mirror the success of its other major franchise adaption in Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. EA is making it strictly single-player, and the rumored Black Panther will have role-playing elements, too. 

Hence, one of the biggest companies on the planet is finally understanding what everyone has been saying for years, that single-player adventure games are as fun as multiplayer games and earn major profit for the companies as well. EA is finally learning how important story-based experiences are for players, and we are here for it.

It’s obvious that these games have not come out yet, and they may be good or bad. However, EA finally putting many of these games out without microtransactions is what makes them special. Hopefully, we will see many more single-player games from EA, and this new trend continues.