470°

Rest in peace, EA's Online Pass program

According to EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg, as of today, the company’s Online Pass program is no more.

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venturebeat.com
NYC_Gamer3990d ago

That's good news coming from EA

a_bro3990d ago

too good to be true, especially from EA

HammadTheBeast3990d ago

I have a feeling this might be something stupid.... like Multi player/Single Player separate or Premium Packs with built in online passes.

I've grown wary of EA after their BS.

zeal0us3990d ago (Edited 3990d ago )

Yeah I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet and if it is true, I pretty sure EA will come up with a alternative that work similar to online passes later on down the road.

badz1493990d ago

Looks like they have found another way to rip us off! ...something bad is coming guys, and it will start with BF4! Get ready for impact!

NeverEnding19893990d ago

Let's hope SONY follows EA's footsteps and gets rid of this greedy feature. Good move, EA.

nukeitall3989d ago

I really dislike the online pass, because it never added anything. Was just purely an extra cost and a limited access.

Now, if they had online pass similar to season passes I would be all down for that. Ideally though for both publishers and gamers, they should just raise the price and give us more content overall.

More map packs and so on for everyone that has access to new or used game, but the cost can be a modest $5 above what we pay now.

I hate it when developers split the community with DLC especially the multiplayer type.

JBallerX3989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

A lot of negative responses on here. This is good news! I understand being wary of EA because of their past, but until we hear something else, this is great news! We have no idea if they are going to implement something in the future or not. No point in speculating (or assuming) that they will. The time to get upset is if they announce some other form of gouging in the future, but this is great for now. I'm sure I'll get disagrees to this...but I don't care.

ThanatosDMC3989d ago

More DLCs that are actually the whole game cut into pieces.

ziggurcat3989d ago

@ nukeitall:

you're only half right.

you're correct in that the online pass doesn't really add anything, but it only has an extra cost if you are the type of person who only buys used copies of video games. if you never buy used or if you buy used and don't give a **** about multiplayer, then it costs you $0 extra.

abzdine3989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

this only means more and more like me are boycotting their games so in the end they lost more money than they thought they would be earning from this online pass fee.

good news indeed

Army_of_Darkness3989d ago

” Reseburg said. “We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.”

Finally doing something none-greedy for once. My stance into not ever buying an online pass helped make a difference;-) yeah baby!

guitarded773989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

"Rest in peace" my ass... More like "BURN IN HELL ONLINE PASS".

They know they can make more money off DLC if MP is free for even used game sales.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 3989d ago
coolbeans3990d ago

Certainly a good start. Now to clean up just about everything else.

Root3990d ago

I think with them looking for a new CEO after John Riccitiello and the fact we have a brand new gen coming up this would be the perfect time for the new guy, when he's made CEO, to fix this company.

If I was taking over from John Riccitiello and knew the amount of hate the company gets from gamers I would want to turn the company around to restore it's rep. That means stop restricting devs, allow freedom, stop cutting content and selling it as DLC etc

No more online passes is a step in the right direction but they still have a long way to go

dasbeer883990d ago

Your second paragraph can also be said to Microsoft too, except the John Riccitello part.

redDevil873990d ago

I'm sure they'll have something else in store.

Both next-gen consoles have the ability to block used games. I can see EA using it.

kagon013990d ago

Agreed, the PS4 has this abominable feature...

aLucidMind3989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

Sony has already flat-out stated that the PS4 won't block used games. Because Sony isn't doing it, Microsoft won't either because that would essentially be handing their customers to their biggest competitor on a silver platter.

DragonKnight3989d ago

This is just so they can look better for when they really bring out microtransactions.

DOMination-3989d ago

Or always online drm. Just because neither console forces it doesnt mean a publisher cant do it. Sony said they can do what they want. Same with used games. The PS4 doesnt block them as a feature built in but publishers are free to do it. Same on xbox of course. People must learn this.

DragonKnight3989d ago

@DOMination: Sony never said anything of the sort. There is no always-online DRM for the PS4. Sony's "always-on" is strictly for downloading updates or games and stuff like that. As for used games, Jack Tretton and Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that they will work on the PS4. If you're referring to that tidbit where Yoshida mentioned that it was up to publishers when it comes to online registration, everyone believes that that is just a continuation of the already present online passes, which is a form of online registration.

So to reiterate. Used games will work on the PS4 and there will be no always-online DRM. Publishers will not be able to do whatever they want.

MikeMyers3989d ago

@DragonKnight
"Publishers will not be able to do whatever they want."

Of course they can. In fact they already are.

http://www.ps3news.com/PS3-...

Sony also uses online passes so it will be interesting moving forward if they continue to support them and if it carries over to the PS4.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3989d ago
showtimefolks3990d ago

EA get better, you control so many IP's that you should be making more money than any other publishers only of you care about few things

Stop trying to rip us off with online pass and micro transactions
Releasing games with always online
Also it would help gain profits if any and all games release by EA were really quality titles with a lot of polish

Army of two
Dead space 3

Both games could have used more interesting ideas and more time to really make both quality titles

Here is HOOING with a new GEN we get a new EA that cares about gamers as much as hey care about making money

Outside_ofthe_Box3990d ago

EA is finally doing something right.

B-radical3990d ago

So with battlefield 4 we will still need origin?

Imalwaysright3989d ago

Great. Now Sony needs to do the same and MS must kill their giant online pass aka Live as well.

coolbeans3989d ago

You mean Xbox Live Gold. Live is their online service altogether.

kamakaz3md3989d ago

hah, the damage has already been done. Tho ea has alot of great games, I will not forget all the @ss raping they did to me in the past. And next gen consoles are a whole new story, so it could pick back up with some kind similar scheme.

StraightPath3989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

greedy Sony and Ubisoft should follow too. Stupid they thought this will help increase sales..

3989d ago
Bobby Kotex3989d ago

SO you like EA now? Next time I want people to like me, I'll continuously do something crappy and then stop, then everyone will like me.

Blaze9293989d ago

could be an indication of what Sony/Microsoft may soon be announcing about there online services.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 3989d ago
Neoninja3990d ago

Can't believe I'm going to say this but, good job EA! Hopefully other publisher who do that online pass junk decide to dump it as well.

antz11043989d ago

I know, right? WOOOOOOOOOOT!!!

irepbtown3989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

At least now we can buy used EA games and not worry about a pass :D

animegamingnerd3990d ago (Edited 3990d ago )

now hopefully companies like ubisoft, sony, warner brothers and anyone else who are dumb enough to think online passes are a good idea can do this too

Lucreto3990d ago

I am surprised I thought it would go the other way more online passes.

One part says this is good of EA but another part says they might have always online instead or something worse.

Alexander243990d ago

Never thought I would say this but good going EA! I hope they keep on doing things like this.

Here's hoping other publishers follow suit.

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220°

EA Hopes to Use Generative AI to Drive Monetization and Make Development 30% More Efficient

Today Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson provided a look into his ideas for the use of generative AI in the company's development processes.

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techraptor.net
thorstein42d ago

I wonder what the next buzz word they'll slap in front of AI to make it sound exciting next? "Generative" as if it's creating its own content. Lol.

Cacabunga41d ago

EA is already dying a painful death..

peppeaccardo41d ago

i have a better idea .. why the whole exec team doesn't get replaced by chat bots ?

just_looken41d ago

Though i agree the ai thing is already in other forms of media there have been ai translations/scripts/voice over and even full ai commercials aired on tv. Ubisoft has created a ai game creator story/vo/music except the building of the game

The new unreal engine has auto terrain creation tools

In the world of greed in which it is winning without any major blow back ai is our future.

everyone want's biden dead on the mic or a criminal instead of a woman and now we are getting ai everything because no one will stop watching/playing ai created media.

GamerRN41d ago

Maybe they should just focus on making good games?

Just a thought...

Kiryu199241d ago

Exactly EA are just pure evil. When they are beating Bank of America to be voted the worst company to work for that’s saying a lot

Good thing I don’t buy their games day one and wait for deep deep sale years after launch (the select few games I am actually interested in)

Gaming is making so much money yet the greed of these companies is never ending

CEO’s and people on board making millions yet cutting jobs to those who are actually making the products

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 41d ago
Knightofelemia42d ago (Edited 42d ago )

EA is still a shady shitty company even with or without the help of Skynet. All they will use AI for is new ways to milk loot boxes and come up with the same sports title with a different year on the label. They are one company I truly do hate with a passion. They single handedly ruined some great franchise with their death touch. ME, Dead Space, Alice Returns, Dante's Inferno.

Stuart575641d ago

EA layoffs followed by 'Generative AI to Drive Monetization'

I knew it. Wonder what AI salary looks like? Nothing.

ChasterMies41d ago

I having a feeling that most of the layoffs in the industry are based on the idea that AI will do the same job for less.

DarXyde40d ago

Very likely, yes.

Made worse by the fact that the execs aren't changing their compensations.

My deepest fear at this point is that we are now in the capitalism endgame.

At this point, we really should just burn AI to the ground. Executives cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
How are those people expected to support families if everything gets automated?

Barlos41d ago (Edited 41d ago )

And take away creativity, and people's jobs as we've been seeing. Got it.

No thanks. I want my games created by people, not AI.

CobraKai41d ago

Exactly. If or when games start becoming more AI than people, im done with gaming. AI and companies like EA can suck donkey d***k.

just_looken41d ago

Though i agree remember this is no ps3/360 era were we got up to 3 games in one generation from on developer like gears/halo/bioware/sony/ms

The people today are pro esg/sweet baby for the most part AAA gaming is imploding right now.

We should be stepping back re evaluate everything as a whole this year xmen 97 written/directed by a woman that is nuts and its also being made by a group reshaping bodies to be less sexual like wtf. A dam famous cartoon from the 90's is being rebuilt with millions spent to be worse in everyway.

Gaming/movies/tv shows made today are worse than what we had 7years ago ai won't change this but that ai is also being made by these groups so either way we are screwed.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Eonjay41d ago

Don't be of afraid of women. Sexy characters in games and movies still exist. Got my Stellar Blade on preorder!!! Everything all the time doesn't need to be sexual...that's stupid, childish and dull.

Chocoburger41d ago (Edited 41d ago )

EA doesn't want to lose their title of worst gaming company ever, always trying their best to remain the champs!
What's sad is that they have so much potential to be a decent publisher.

SSX Tricky / SSX 3
Def Jam Vendetta / Fight for New York
NBA Street
NFL Steet
Mirror's Edge
Bad Company
Burnout 3 / 4 / 5

Remember when EA used to be awesome? It's all over with now. Unpolished, if not out-right broken games these days. Endless monetization and gambling in their sports games, and let's not forget wasting hours of your life trying to unlock characters or equipment using "surprise boxes!"

Show all comments (37)
80°

EA And Sony Layoffs, Entertainment News And More Skewedcast

Gareth, Justin, and JoeyZ look at Layoff news for EA and Sony and reasons behind the downturn in the industry and more.

220°

EA - Continuing to evolve our business and teams

EA CEO Andrew Wilson writes: "In this time of change, we expect these decisions to impact approximately 5 percent of our workforce. I understand this will create uncertainty and be challenging for many who have worked with such dedication and passion and have made important contributions to our company. While not every team will be impacted, this is the hardest part of these changes, and we have deeply considered every option to try and limit impacts to our teams. Our primary goal is to provide team members with opportunities to find new roles and paths to transition onto other projects. Where that’s not possible, we will support and work with each colleague with the utmost attention, care, and respect. Communicating these impacts has already begun and will be largely completed by early next quarter."

LG_Fox_Brazil49d ago

All the big ones doing the same stuff. Terrible. I just hope that all these people are able to get a new job as soon as possible, God know that it is horrible to be left jobless when you have your kids or your parents depending on your financial help

Jin_Sakai49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

2024 so far.

Feb ’28 Electronic Arts (EA) 670 (5%)
Feb ’24 PlayStation 900 (8%)
Feb ’24 Vice Media Group Several hundred
Feb ’24 Buzzfeed 16%
Feb ’24 NowThis 26 (50%)
Feb ’24 Paramount Global 800 (3%)
Feb ’24 SiriusXM 160 (3%)
Feb ’24 Snapchat 10%
Jan ’24 TechCrunch 8 + subscription product
Jan ’24 U.K.’s Channel 4 200
Jan ’24 Business Insider 8%
Jan ’24 Microsoft Gaming 1,900
Jan ’24 Riot Games 530
Jan ’24 Sports Illustrated Possibly all
Jan ’24 YouTube 100
Jan ’24 Pitchfork (Conde Nast) Undisclosed
Jan ’24 Universal Music Group Hundreds
Jan ’24 Discord 17%
Jan ’24 NBC News 50-100
Jan ’24 Audible 5%
Jan ’24 Google Hundreds
Jan ’24 Amazon Hundreds
Jan ’24 Duolingo 10%
Jan ’24 VideoAmp 20%

DATA AS OF FEB. 28, 2024

outsider162449d ago

Is it possible maybe this whole ai thing is in play?

just_looken48d ago

Another long list that skips over UPS cutting 12,000 jobs those workers as we know work without ac low pay and old box trucks but that company had to cut 12k jobs do too loosing billions of dollars year 2 year.

https://edition.cnn.com/202...

The greed and lack of transparency/oversight is disgusting.

Ups are still making bang but not enough for a golden boat fleet.

Remember we all use ups at some time even stuff in our stores this is going to be a huge issue gong forward i know in my area they removed half the state ups stores northern half least population got some 3rd party running packages now from minivans.

Sonic188148d ago

When I explan this I get called a troll 🤔 like wtf

thorstein48d ago

@just_looken

UPS is a different story altogether.

They are paying the people doing the actual work/ earning the money more and eliminating management.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 48d ago
CrimsonWing6949d ago (Edited 49d ago )

You do realize around this time this happens all throughout many industries (not just the game industry), right? It has to do with taxes for these major companies, like tax subsidies for downsizing. You want to know a little secret? Around May or so you’ll see a spike in hiring…

It blows my mind that people are oblivious to corporate workings.

Andrew33649d ago

So over 25 huge companies cut jobs every year like this and it only got noticed this time?

CrimsonWing6949d ago (Edited 49d ago )

@Andrew336

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Google it up if you’re uninformed of how corporations work. Only gamers seem to live in a bubble and when they see things like crunch, acquisitions, and lay-offs they act like this is the only industry it happens to and how shocked they are about it.

Welcome to the real world, kid.

thorstein48d ago (Edited 48d ago )

EA CEO Wilson's total compensation was 20 million. Let's take away 19 million (I'm sure he can survive on 1 million.... somehow).

1 million is the salary of an in the chair developer @100,000 for 10 years.

He could earn 1 million a year.

And save the jobs of 15 in the chair devs for A DECADE (plus benefits) with ONE YEAR'S compensation.

RhinoGamer8849d ago

No Executive accountability or firings I see...

just_looken48d ago

Do not worry they will take over 40mill say sorry then get hired by playstation or xbox

blackblades48d ago

I heard Japan does it better, they do layoffs like what's happening with companies in the west. The higher ups also being agreeing to to lower there own salary. These MFs like jim and Phil isnt gonna do that they want that $

Sonic188149d ago

Like I said earlier, this is happening all around the gaming industry.

Petebloodyonion49d ago

The point I feel is problematic about all of this is that focusing on Owned Ip means more sequels, remasters and more of what was selling last year.

TheColbertinator49d ago

EA is certainly among the worst,if not the worst

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