DICE: Shooters are becoming services

DICE's Patrick Bach has said the shooter genre has room for more than one juggernaut, as the market evolves to see games as services.

"I think this year will see a huge growth in the total FPS market," the producer told IndustryGamers. "The market can grow and include several titles as long as they complement each other and add quality and value to the players.

"I also believe that our free social platform Battlelog will make a huge difference in how people perceive where the game starts and ends. Games, especially FPS titles with their deep persistence and team play are no longer just hard-coded discs. They are transforming into a service."

Asked to comment on Battlefield 3's emphasis on reality, Bach said authentic graphics isn't the only path to success.

"Different companies have different takes on what they want to do and where they want to take the genre. I don’t see it as a race to be the most realistic shooter – realism, as opposed to grounded in authenticity, is not our end goal with Battlefield 3 and probably never will be," he said.

"Having said that, with greater graphics capabilities comes a greater need to focus on visual details.

"We are not trying to create a simulator. But the feeling that what happens in the game is plausible and looks real and authentic is important to us."

Battlefield 3 releases next week on all three major platforms, ahead of rival Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.