EA discusses Titanfall's Xbox, PC exclusivity

Respawn Entertainment's hotly anticipated shooter Titanfall is a Microsoft-exclusive, releasing only on Xbox and PC in March 2014. Sony fans looking for an explanation as for why they can't play the game now have one, as EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said today that the decision to make the game exclusive to Microsoft platforms simply made business sense.

"That's a process that's been done through the industry for many years," Jorgensen said today during the UBS Global Technology Conference about Titfanfall's role as a platform-exclusive. "There's lots of single-platform titles. Obviously, you work with the first-parties to make sure the economics make sense for all sides and we made that decision on Titanfall."

Jorgensen did, however, make clear that it is only the first Titanfall game that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC, thereby teasing that a potential sequel could be released on Sony platforms.

"So obviously it's the first title that's committed to a single platform," Jorgensen said.

Regarding the nature of EA's relationship with developer Respawn Entertainment, Jorgensen said the partnership is nothing more than a standard agreement between companies.

"It's a business partnership. We're trying to make sure that we've developed a great relationship with them," he said. "We helped them on marketing, we helped them on development where they need it. And we try to maintain a strong partnership with them over time. It's no different than any other business partnership or partnershipthat we would have with Sony or Microsoft."

Respawn Entertainment cofounder Vince Zampella said last month that Titanfall was always planned as a Microsoft-exclusive for launch, though the decision to keep the game off Sony platforms for good was made sometime later. Asked if Respawn Entertainment would make a game for the PS4 someday, Zampella replied, "Of course we will, just not the first Titanfall."

Titanfall will be released on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC on March 11, 2014. Toy company K'NEX announced today that it will create a line of playsets based on Titanfall.