Earlier this week, it was announced that EA and Marvel had signed a three-game deal, starting with an Iron Man game. During an earnings call, the company discussed how the deal came about and what it might look like.
EA noted that the deal came as a result of success with “Star Wars”. A 10-year exclusive contract was signed for the franchise to develop console games. It was pointed out that 40% of people who played a “Star Wars” game went on to play other EA games, although it is unclear how this was measured. EA hopes to replicate this success with Marvel games by getting players to transition from one of the superhero games to another EA franchise, such as Battlefield or FIFA. It is not yet clear what this will look like.
Insomniac’s Spider-Man games are a massive success, and it is likely that anyone who can build something similar for other superheroes will be able to turn a profit. Even Star Wars: Battlefront 2 did not have the smoothest launch, but EA subsequently ensured the game thrived for years to come. EA hopes the situation with Marvel will develop successfully right from the start.