EA Explains Why They're Not Interested in Bringing Games to the Switch
The Nintendo Switch has a lot of games. I think that goes without saying at this point. Its eShop is positively crowded with games of all types, and it shows no signs of slowing down. And yet, there's one segment of gaming that just seems to be curiously missing from the Switch library: Electronic Arts games. To this day, there are only four EA titles on Switch: FIFA 18 & 19, Fe, and Unravel 2. It's a weirdly low amount when put next to the mammoth of total titles EA has published just in recent years. So what gives? As it turns out, the company has a reason for ignoring Nintendo's handheld-console hybrid. In a recent earnings conference call, an investor asked EA CEO Andrew Wilson if they could expect a port of The Sims to Switch anytime soon. After all, The Sims seems like a natural fit for the Switch, allowing people to manage their virtual families on the go. Wilson shot the idea down.
"Any time we're evaluating platform conversations, we're really looking at a couple of things," he explained. "One, does the game really fit the profile of that platform in terms of the control or the community ecosystem? Two, do we think the community playing on that platform would appreciate the game and go there, or would they prefer to play it somewhere else?" The data apparently suggests that EA's fanbase would indeed prefer elsewhere. "We have a lot of data that would suggest a great many Switch owners also own a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One or a PC and very often choose to play the games that we make on those platforms, even though they have a Switch and they enjoy a lot of great content on the Switch." Still, despite all this, Wilson didn't completely rule out the idea of The Sims on Switch, at the very least. "I wouldn't say that The Sims would never go to the Switch," he concludes.
It's an unfortunate set of circumstances then for those looking to play EA's games on the platform. While it's true that many Switch owners likely do own one of the other three main game platforms, Switch's portability and popularity make it a tough option to just outright ignore. This even extends to the EA games already available on the console. FIFA 19 was well known for being a noticeable downgrade from its other versions, especially where its visuals were concerned. Fe and Unravel 2, meanwhile, feel right at home on the Switch, surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of fellow indie titles from smaller developers. With EA's stance on the Switch, it's hard to imagine all of their curated indie titles making the leap over; a real shame. Since the decisions are coming from EA's higher brass, we probably won't see a change in this sort of thing in the near future.
With that being said, The Sims' latest outing is available on plenty of other platforms. The Sims 4 can be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Mac OS devices. Since it released all the way back in 2014, fans have been eagerly awaiting news on a fifth installment. There are no signs of it yet, but if and when it does show up, don't get your hopes up for a Switch version just yet. Even if EA isn't bringing their games to the Switch, it certainly won't slow down other developers and publishers from loading up the eShop with their own games. The Switch is going strong, and hopefully, someday, EA chooses to give it some love.
Tanner is a freelance writer. He enjoys all things video games, particularly the weirder ones, and can often be found drinking coffee and trying to get through his backlog.
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