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John Riccitello discusses the impact of the free-to-play market on Star Wars: The Old Republic
Rumors continue to swirl about whether or not Star Wars: The Old Republic will embrace the free-to-play model. In a recent interview, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitello threw a bit more fuel on the fire by stating that the company is looking at different models to help make Star Wars: The Old Republic accessible to the largest number of people. The recent unlimited trial of the game is the first of several steps designed to lower the game's barrier to entry for new players. Riccitello explains that the biggest problem facing the game is competing against the currently massive free-to-play market, which he describes as a major challenge to any game launching with a subscription model. Despite this, there's no direct confirmation that the game will be embracing the free model in the near future. The full interview can be found on CNBC with further commentary from Riccitello regarding the growing impact of digital distribution and EA's longer plan over the next several years.
Riccitello rejoins EA as new CEO
Former Electronic Arts President and COO John Riccitello is returning to the publishing behemoth. On April 2, Riccitello will become the new chief executive officer, while current EA CEO Larry Probst will stay on as executive chairman of the board of directors.Probst held the position of Big Kahuna since 1991. During his time, the company has steadily solidified its position as supreme being in the world of game publishing, made seven more Madden iterations, saw firsthand the awe-inspiring financial powerhouse that is Will Wright's The Sims (and its subsequent sequels / expansion packs) and who at one point abstained from letting EA publish M-rated titles. (The latter position did not last: EA's first M-rated title was Quake III for the PlayStation 2 in 2000.)Riccitello left EA in 2004 to co-found Elevation Partners with, among others, U2 singer Bono. Elevation Partners created a "super developer" through the purchase and merger of Pandemic and BioWare in late 2005.Read [Wall Street Journal; subscription required]
