EA to keep licenses despite shift towards new IP

Glenn Entis, senior VP and chief visual officer at EA, has told GamesIndustry.biz that the company will continue to develop licensed products despite a new focus on original IP.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Entis said, "We've always strived to make the best titles, but now as we're changing we also want to have great new properties and really pick up the pace. Also as a business, we really believe that real future is creating new properties and building them up over time.

"Just to be clear, we're not moving away from the old business model. The licensed properties we build, we love those titles, we have great relationships with the license holders. What we're saying is we also need to agressively supplement that with original titles," he continued.

"What people are seeing as a change from EA is not a completely new direction. We're taking something we've always done, which is to create new titles, but we're saying we really want to pick up the pace now, we want to be more energetic at that - and we're willing to take more creative risks to do that."

Entis conceded that a few years ago, EA was afraid of taking risks with games if they weren't sure of the outcome - but, he went on, "We're more willing right now to bet on really talented developers and say, 'Okay, this is new and we can see there are real risks, but we believe in the people their passion about it.'

"One thing we've realised as a company is that game developers are happier, more inspired, and seem to be drawing in more talent when we're doing the exciting, creative work. It's simple - people want to be proud of the work they do."

Part one of the full interview is now on GamesIndustry.biz, with part two due to be published next week.