Electronic Arts, the publisher behind franchises such as Battlefield, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars, wants to do more than make money. In an interview with GamesIndustry International, EA Studios executive vice president Patrick Soderlund claimed that it is EA’s responsibility to “push the industry forward and to help others”.
“We can’t just be a company that’s only about gigantic big things,” Soderlund said. “We will always put a lot of effort into our AAA games, but it’s good for us to have a portfolio that is maybe broader than what we’ve had in the past.” Soderlund went on to explain how EA is trying to become a publisher that indie devs see as approachable, citing their partnership with Unravel. “I think we managed to convince them that we would be a good home for this, and that we would nurture it and take care of it the way it deserves.”
Soderlund also discussed how he believes games are an art form and they should be produced from the vision of the artists, rather than solely as products to make money. EA wants to become a welcoming haven for developers. “What we’re trying to do is to get people to work on something that they love, and that they want to work on,” said Soderlund. “I, and the people that work for me in leadership positions, we’re enablers, rather than telling people what to do”. EA has been working hard to alter its perception in the public eye, and they seem to be headed in the right direction.