Microsoft and EA may announce an exclusive partnership of some kind when Microsoft unveils the next Xbox, according to a CVG report.
While the report says multiple sources confirmed that there is a deal, it is less clear on what games or products would be involved. Over the course of the Xbox 360/PS3 era, the number of third-party console-exclusive has rapidly declined, nearing the point of extinction, making the idea that a EA would make an entire game for the next Xbox extremely doubtful. Many modern console-exclusivity agreements arrange for timed exclusives on DLC: Activision, for example, has released "Call of Duty" map packs on Xbox 360 90 days ahead of other platforms since "Modern Warfare 2" was released in 2009.
Even if the deal is for a game's DLC rights, the question remains: What games are involved? Though the deal could involve a handful of properties, including new IPs, based on the timing the front-runner seems to be the unannounced new game from Respawn Entertainment. Earlier this week Respawn founder Vince Zampella announced that his studio would "be at" E3 2013. The tweet did not specify that the game would make it's debut at the show, however, leaving the possibility that the unnamed "sci-fi shooter" may be revealed alongside the next Xbox. Building on that theory, Activision announced that the PS4 would be getting exclusive DLC for"Destiny," Bungie's upcoming MMO shooter, at Sony's next-gen announcement last week.
Given this information, it would be easy to see the fact that EA did not attend Sony's PS4 presentation last week as a sign of a larger shift towards the next Xbox. Speaking to analysts at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen claims their absence was meant to "maintain a good balance with all the parties out there," but confirms that EA is designing games for Sony's next-gen platform, specifically adding that "Battlefield 4" "looks great on PS4.". At the same time, Jorgensen also teased that EA would have more reveals coming before E3, adding creedance to the idea that the publisher will, at the very least, show something at Microsoft's next-gen coming out party.
Rumors suggest that Microsoft plans to unveil the next Xbox, codename Durango, at a special event this April.
