Microsoft and EA unveiled a "new, broad, strategic partnership," at the Xbox One announcement today. EA Executive Vice President Andrew Wilson was on hand to show four titles—FIFA, Madden, NBA Live and UFC—that are all powered by what the company is calling EA Sports Ignite. It's the company's new game engine unveiled today.
Wilson said Sports Ignite will help "blur the line between real and virtual." The engine allows for four times more calculations per second and ten times more animation depth and detail. The results are what Wilson referred to as "true player motion."
Additionally, Wilson noted that EA games are "now living worlds." There will be 3D crowds in the new titles and a daily stream of content on XBox Live that impacts games as you play. Wilson promised more information would be revealed "soon," including exclusive content for Ultimate Team mode in FIFA '14. The company then ran a video demonstrating gameplay. As Gaming Editor Kyle Orland put it, "Hard to tell if this is pre-rendered target footage or actually live gameplay. Either way, it looks pretty incredible."
Beyond these sports titles, Forza 5 will be available at launch. Microsoft plans on debuting eight new franchises during the first year the Xbox One is on the market.
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