EA is investing greater resources in software development for smart devices than dedicated handheld gaming platforms, according to chief operating officer Peter Moore. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, the executive explained that the company's "resource planning is done two to two and a half years in advance" and EA is hedging its bets on the continued proliferation of mobiles and tablets. "We were supportive of both of those platforms," Moore said of 3DS and Vita. "But then you've got finite resources and you've got teams that say, 'We really think that two or three years from now, these are the platforms that people are going to be consuming games on.' And you look at the quality of what you can do on phones and tablets. "Sometimes strategy is not about what you do but what you don't do, and you have to make some hard calls when you've got only so many people. To my point, we've got to be planning for FY 17 and 18. Do you think the Vita and 3DS are going to be around in some shape or fashion by then on a scale level?" One of the publisher's biggest games of the year, this September's FIFA 15, is set for release on 3DS, Vita, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii, but not on Wii U. Former Xbox executive Moore also predicted a "great fight" between PS4 and Xbox One this holiday season, which he labelled great for the industry and consumers. "You need powerful companies like Sony and Microsoft to be battling out with each other because it drives investment in their platforms," he said. "It drives competition. You want to see Nintendo come back with the Wii U. When you have a runaway winner, that actually has a reverse effect." Source Cvg
