EA: Next-gen consoles 'unlikely' to be backwards compatible

Xbox 720 and PS4 probably won't support backwards compatibility, according to a EA's chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen.

Speaking at a Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, panel session, Jorgensen said of next-gen, "I think people are going to be pretty excited. An important thing to remember is that next-gen consoles will most likely not be backwards compatible.

"And if you [play] multiplayer on a game, you'll most likely not be able to play with someone on a different generation."

Jorgensen hinted at a potential launch window for next-gen consoles while talking about FIFA, "If you're a FIFA player and, and the soccer season's starting in August, and all your friends are playing FIFA, you're going to want to be on the same box that they're on.

"So if they all go out and buy a gen-four box if it comes out at Christmas, then you'll most likely do it. If they all hold on and continue to play on third-generation, you'll probably not see that box purchase until after the soccer season's over."

On the nature of Xbox 720 and PS4, he added, "I do think once again without describing the new consoles, you've got to assume they're going to be highly integrated into the living room and the house, and there will be a lot of capability for interaction."

He also underlined the "connectivity potential" of next-gen consoles.

What do you make of the above?

Thanks to Gamasutra for the transcript, and CVG for the tip.