nickachu wrote:
Bollocks are they more important than consoles.
It's important to note that EA has recently made some big decisions about breaking from Steam and launching its own competing service, as well as buying Popcap.
So yeah, they're going to expect greater returns on those investments, and they both probably have more long-term potential than the current round of consoles. EA are naturally going to emphasise the PC a little more right now, both to satisfy their money men, and to make a statement to the industry and audience at large.
Saying the PC is more important than the consoles altogether is probably a stretch. But 'vastly more important than we previously thought' likely isn't. EA were one of several publishers thought to be abandoning or at least neglecting the PC. That they're willing to say the PC matters to them so much is probably a bigger statement than the actual figures - even if the numbers don't match, all they have to do is get the rumour out there that the PC is better, and lots of people will believe it, and probably be more likely to support them as a result.
It's particularly well-timed given that EA has only shed its "most hated publisher" title in the last few years, while Ubisoft has grabbed it and run off into the distance, apparently doing all it can to shaft its customers at every turn. This may all be about capitalising on that as much as anything.
Never underestimate the PR/political angle
The PC in general is at an interesting point right now. The rise of indie developers in the last few years, coupled with the advent of casual and ipad/etc gaming, as well as the near monopoly of Steam finally being challenged... well. I wouldn't be surprised to see more publishers coming to blows over PC issues.