EA Sports announcing new game in January

EA's Sports label plays home to some of the most consistently best-selling franchises in the publisher's stable. In November, EA said that its perennial chart-topper Madden NFL 10 had sold 3.9 million units through September, even after CEO John Riccitiello called the game's retail environment "discouraging." FIFA 10, on the other hand, has flown off retailer shelves, selling more than 4.5 million units through November, a 26 percent year-over-year climb.

EA Sports' strong sales track record being as it is, the publisher apparently plans on announcing a new game in January. As related by EA Sports community manager Alain Quinto through his Twitter feed, "Just heard the execs at EA Sports will announce a new game sometime in January." Unfortunately, Quinto offered no clues on what the new sports title would be or whether it would kick off a new franchise.

The publisher expanded its lineup of sports games in a big way in 2009 with EA Sports Active. While not a sports sim per se, the workout title for the Wii gained substantial traction with more casual audiences, with EA pegging sales at 1.8 million during its April-June quarter. A follow-up was released in November.

With THQ's UFC 2009: Undisputed landing big in May, EA also intends to enter the mixed martial arts ring with EA Sports MMA in 2010. Announced at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the brawler has already signed on such big names in mixed martial arts as Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture.

EA Sports' previous racing franchise, based on the NASCAR league, was discontinued earlier this year.