Electronic Arts just pulled off a successful online event with the EA Play Live 2020. Here’s a breakdown of what went down and all of its big reveals.
In a nutshell, the digital marketing EA Play event was composed of back-to-back big reveals. All the while the 50-minute live event was happening, the host, Greg Miller of Kinda Funny Games, kept dropping bits of letter codes for what was later on revealed as a redemption code for a free Steam game title of your choosing.
The event started out with an opening message from the CEO of Electronic Arts Andrew Wilson. He gave an inspirational message covering the current events looming the whole world—the coronavirus pandemic and the recent racial injustices. He then expressed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Apex Legends opened the event with a big surprise
There were two major bullet points that Respawn Entertainment revealed during the Live event. First, the reveal of the upcoming updates and changes to Apex Legends Season 5—a new game mode and amazing new skins.
There’s also the reveal of its Lost Treasures collection event, with Fortune’s favor coming on June 23.
The second point, which was a massive unveiling, is the game’s expansion to other platforms. Apex Legends will indeed be a cross-play game title come this Fall. Not to mention, the most highlighted expansion to be revealed was for Nintendo Switch.
Cross-play expansion: EA games coming to Steam and Switch
Furthermore, Apex Legends was not the only title set to cross over to Steam. EA announced that The Sims 4, Titanfall 2, A Way Out, and Dead Space 3 are actually now made available to Valve’s digital storefront for video games.
In addition, they’ve also released their Command & Conquer Remastered Collection that is playable in 4K.
Also, in the months to come, EA is set to release seven new games to the handheld console, Nintendo Switch. In fact, Burnout Paradise is set to be released on June 19.
Need for Speed Heat is set to get a cross-play platform capability as well.
Next wave of EA originals
The event then revealed its next wave of EA originals as they partnered with developers like Zoink! Games, Velan Studios, and Hazelight.
The first new EA title to be revealed came from Hazelight, with writer-director Josef Fares, introducing It Takes Two. For those who are not familiar with Fares and his team of developers, they are responsible for the critically acclaimed 2018 title A Way Out.
The game will be a co-op action-adventure title that’s set to release in 2021.
Next, Zoink! revealed Lost in Random featuring a gothic fairy tale story of a girl named Even and her companion, Dicey. CEO/Game Director Kalus Lyngeled and Game Director Olav Redmalm gave everyone a first look at the “coming-of-age” story of Even and her adventures with Dicey.
The third game to be revealed is from Final Strikes Games—a Bellevue-based indie dev game studio with a passion for making multiplayer games. This will be the devs’ first game debut and it does look very promising.
Rocket Arena, which will be launching real soon this July 14. One thing to note about this 3v3 multiplayer game is it uses the term “rocket” as an adjective, a verb, and a term for its weapon.
Lastly, the already teased launch trailer from EA and LucasFilms is the Star Wars: Squadrons. Viewers of the Live event was blessed to witness an expanded gameplay preview of the space combat game centered within the Star Wars universe. Also, it is important to highlight one detail about the game—it can be played fully on VR.
The future of EA gaming
The last two big announcements were given by EA’s Chief Studios Officer Laura Miele. First is the next level for EA Sports which is likely tied to the high-definition gaming promised by the upcoming next-gen consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Lastly—and of the biggest reveal so far—is the return of Skate to the current gaming generation. The Skate‘s Creative Director Cuz Parry was very excited to reveal that they are finally back with a new yet still untitled Skate installment.
Along with Skate Game Director Deran Chung, the two revealed that the return of the Skate revolution is, indeed, because of popular demand from its still active fanbase community.
There’s a lot to expect from Electronic Arts this year. Make sure to stay tuned for more updates!
Featured image courtesy of EA Play Live/Live stream screenshot