EA: Command & Conquer may become online only in the future

EA's Jon Van Caneghem has said that the business model for future Command & Conquer games may be on par with Battlefield Heroes, in that it could be released online instead of through a retail package.

"Direct-to-consumer is where I think most games are going, and I've always been a fan of the [C&C]series," he told Gamasutra. "The company has the same vision I do on the future of games and the future of this franchise, so I think it's going be great.

"Look what online has done for RPGs over the last 10 years. All the other categories are following suit... we're looking forward to building something to be a leader in that space. It allows you to do everything you would have expected from a boxed game, but it adds a lot more to it... being connected and connected with players, and persistence, the social elements of playing against each other with other friends."

Van Caneghem went on to say that online and social elements are "something no one's ever done before" with the RTS genre, and it's high time.

"What you're seeing with all the social gamers on Facebook... they are actually already playing strategy games whether they know it or not.

"Taking a franchise like Command and Conquer and expanding it to a wider audience is part of the strategy."

More through the links.

Via Kotaku.