Electronic Arts (EA), the video game publisher, has issued a statement rejecting reports that it would cease selling physical copies of games in some regions of Europe. This indicates that the company intends to continue with business as usual, IGN wrote in an article.
An EA spokesperson said the video game company had not stopped the product distribution of their games in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, and players will still be able to purchase the games from retailers across the region. The statement clarified that previous allegations that indicate otherwise are an inaccurate depiction of the disclosures included in EA Germany's statutory financial accounts.
This information was provided in response to a question circulated on Thursday, Oct. 27, about whether or not the company had discontinued the physical distribution of its games.
Read Also: EA Kills Origin, Replacing it with a New PC App - Here's What to Expect
Rumor Said EA Would Stop Selling Physical Games in Some Parts of Europe
The initial report stated that the physical versions of EA titles such as FIFA, Battlefield, and others would no longer be available for purchase in certain areas of Europe, leaving digital copies as the only available option. The particular countries mentioned were Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia.
An industry analyst by the name of MauroNL shared a post on Thursday via Twitter that was published by the German news outlet Games Wirtschaft.
Electronic Arts GmbH, located in Rheinauhafen in Germany, has announced it will no longer sell physical copies of its games across the supply area in Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Scandinavia.
— MauroNL (@MauroNL3) October 27, 2022
Games like FIFA & Battlefield can only be bought digitally.https://t.co/y6bEbvHTbz
It is more likely that a misinterpretation of the most recent annual report that was published by EA Germany acted as the basis for the false narrative.
In the said annual report, EA Germany acknowledged that the ongoing transition from tangible products to digital downloads continues to have a negative impact on sales development. However, the revenue generated from digital downloads is not managed by EA directly but rather by one of its affiliates.
Following this news, IGN reportedly contacted EA to ask how the change in policy would influence its operations in the region. The video game company responded and used the chance to deny the rumor, hence the statement mentioned above.
IGN has also expressed its regrets for the publication of an incorrect report.
The Upcoming Plans by EA
The next major release from EA for this year is Need For Speed Unbound, scheduled to be released on Dec. 2 in both digital and physical formats. In January 2023, the publisher will unveil Dead Space Remake.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 expansion for FIFA 23 is expected to be released by the firm as a free upgrade before the aforementioned games are launched. Due to the fact that EA and FIFA will no longer be working together in the future, it is possible that this will be the final licensed FIFA World Cup event in the FIFA series.
Beginning next year, 2023, the FIFA series will be renamed EA Sports FC.
Read Also: 'NHL 23 Bonus Pre-Order' is Now Available: Here Are the Additional Content You Can Receive Inside
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Trisha Kae Andrada
