EA: triple-A franchises on mobile will not cannibalize console counterparts

EA doesn't see mobile as a threat to consoles, instead it is both a supplementary option and just another way to play games.

Speaking with MCV, EA senior vice president Nick Earl said the growth of the mobile - particularity in EA's case - means "everyone has the potential to play our games," not just console owners.

“We’ve seen this phenomenon manifest itself with the success of some of our biggest titles; The Simpsons: Tapped Out generated $23 million in digital net revenue last quarter alone and our overall mobile business last quarter generated about $100 million, which was a substantial increase over the prior year’s performance," he said.

“The marketplace in mobile is arguably the most competitive in the industry. There are more and more apps launching every day, which creates a challenging environment. While we will always see that one breakaway hit, we find that consumers seek high quality and recognizable brands in such a crowded environment.”

Earl also brushes away the idea that triple-A franchises on mobile will cannibalize console counterpart, as smartphone and tablet gaming is "complimentary" to console gaming.

"There is room for both in the lives of our consumers," he said. “The growth of the mobile market excites us because we’re able to reach more than one billion mobile gamers worldwide.

“Customers decide what a great app is, so when we see our games on the top of the charts, that is a testament to the fantastic job our studios have done.”