EA Isn't Working on a Baseball Game...

[RaychelSnr]

From Jon Robinson's interview with EA Sports' Andrew Wilson, we found out today that EA Sports is not currently working on nor negotiating a deal with major league baseball:

"The 2K Sports third-party exclusive with MLB recently expired. Are there current negotiations taking place between EA Sports and Major League Baseball?

No, we’re not. Do I like baseball? Absolutely, I’m a huge baseball fan. But right now, we’re focusing on the franchises we’ve got. We’re focused on doing the UFC, and making it big and global. Is there an opportunity for us to do something with baseball one day? I hope so. But are we doing anything with baseball today? It’s just not something we’re working on right now."

This obviously has major implications because if that is true, and if no one else is stepping up, there will not be a new baseball game for XBox 360 owners next year. The good news is that Wilson seems pretty much is open and ready to do baseball again, but it's likely it'll be for 2014 and not 2013.

XBox 360 owners and baseballs fans: what are your plans with what looks to be a baseball-less 2013 on the horizon?

[jim316]

The rumor is that MLB is charging a very high price for there license and EA is trying to get it for a better price. They will make a deal soon i'm hearing..................

[Bryzine21]

I already picked up a vita with MLB the show. As for next year I will probably get the show for the vita next year depending on when the ps4 debuts. If it comes out in the spring like the Vita did I may choose ps4 over xbox 720 even though I love my 360 and have never owned a PS except for the vita.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: EA Isn't Working on a Baseball Game...

No surprise EA will not be coming back to baseball anytime soon, at least until next generation

[JohnDoe8865]

This is very bad news for us XBOX 360 owners, that we might now get ANY new baseball game next year...

[JohnDoe8865]

Atleast there is still OOTP 14.

[BigBlue]

I'm hoping that 2k keeps their servers up like they did for All pro football and the NHL series. I'm also hoping that 2k share is still working so that roster sharing continues.

BigBlue

[daflyboys]

Re: EA Isn't Working on a Baseball Game...

Wait. You're going to compare a text/stats driven game within this genre? MVP still plays a fun, competitive AND sim oriented game when done correctly. There is a new total mod coming out for the community.

After all, there was no guarantee that a new design would be any good and this response probably has the veiled message that they are no where near ready to compete with The Show, so why announce anything?

[22cedric]

Hopefully EA Sports will develop a game for next gen.

[wildthing2022000]

Of course they're going to deny it. You can't flat out say you're negotiating a contract while the old one is still in effect because that would be tampering, so until the 2k contract expires EA has to deny everything unless they want a lawsuit.

[seanjeezy]

Re: EA Isn't Working on a Baseball Game...

Of course they're going to deny it. You can't flat out say you're negotiating a contract while the old one is still in effect because that would be tampering, so until the 2k contract expires EA has to deny everything unless they want a lawsuit.

What are you talking about? the contract ended once 2k12 was released. I want to say they are waiting for the next gen consoles, why develop a brand new engine for just one game?

[22cedric]

Re: EA Isn't Working on a Baseball Game...

Lets all sign this Bring MVP Baseball Back Campaign:

http://twitition.com/a359m

[Nexgenrulz]

The good news is, if you buy a 160GB PS3 at Target this week, you get MLB 12 The Show for free. What better time to experience the best baseball game out there. Then you're all set for next year too.

[jwilphl]

I always found it odd (and a bit disheartening) that two companies took, what I thought, were the wrong licenses based on their strengths. I get why EA wrapped up NFL exclusivity (more than one reason), and then 2K was basically left with having to somehow counter that move. In the end the only losers were the consumers.

IMHO, 2K had the better football title while EA had the far stronger baseball title. MVP was a good series and one of the few games I would have liked to see EA continue developing.

Regardless I would have certainly preferred no exclusive licenses, altogether. Competition breeds innovation.

[michfan16]

someone call konami and tell them to make us another MLB bobble heads game