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NCAA Basketball, Rock Band, Dead Space 2 PC missing from EA schedule

[UPDATE] Annual college hoops game, rhythm series, and Windows version of outer-space horror game all missing from Electronic Arts' 2011 release calendar; EA reportedly confirms Dead Space 2 is no more, but mum on others' status.

Earlier today, Electronic Arts revealed its 2011 fiscal year calendar as part of its quarterly earnings report. Besides assigning launch windows to high-profile releases like Crysis 2 (fourth quarter of 2010) and announcing APB's delay to the April-June quarter, the schedule also unveiled new titles, such as a new Dragon Age title.

EA may have benched the NCAA Basketball series.

EA may have benched the NCAA Basketball series.

EA's fiscal year 2011 calendar was also notable for what it did not list. Missing from the schedule was EA Sports' annual NCAA Basketball series, which saw its last installment receive decent-to-middling reviews in November. EA Sports reps had not responded to request for clarification about its status as of press time.

NCAA Basketball's absence from EA's detailed schedule raises the possibility that EA Sports may not release a college basketball game for the first time since NCAA March Madness 2004 arrived in late 2003. The franchise's suspension--or outright cancelation--would come just over two years after 2K Sports permanently benched its rival College Hoops series over licensing issues.

MTV Games might be publishing Green Day: Rock Band solo.

MTV Games might be publishing Green Day: Rock Band solo.

Also missing from EA's FY2011 schedule were any Rock Band games, including Green Day: Rock Band, announced in December via a trailer at the VGAs. Though EA has distributed all prior Rock Band games since the franchise launched in 2007 under its EA Partners program, its logo was conspicuously absent from the trailer. Also missing were the monikers of the game's copublisher, MTV Games, and its developer, Harmonix.

When contacted by GameSpot about the omission, Harmonix reps deferred to spokespersons for parent company MTV, which politely declined immediate comment. Inquiries sent to reps for the EA Partners program had not been returned as of press time.

Dead Space 2 for PC is lost in space.

Dead Space 2 for PC is lost in space.

Finally, EA's schedule shook up assumptions about the forthcoming sci-fi horror sequel, Dead Space 2. Though it slated the game to arrive in the first quarter of 2011 for consoles and, for the first time, handhelds, the calendar did not list the PC version.

Dead Space 2 PC's omission comes just a month and a half after it was officially announced for Windows, as well as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. However, because figures from the NPD Group show the original Dead Space sold under 40,000 copies on the PC domestically, a summary cancellation of a follow-up would not be completely surprising.

[UPDATE] Venerable game-news site Blue's News is reporting that EA has confirmed the PC edition of Dead Space 2 is no more. "As of right now a PC SKU is not in the plan," a rep told the site.

34 Comments

  • Imscomobob

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 11:38 am GMT

    is anyone else wondering if this has anything to do with the progression of ed o'bannon's law suit against EA and the NCAA Basketball/Football/Baseball franchises?

  • HellJumper

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 7:25 pm GMT

    'Tis ok, dead space is awesome on xbox

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 11:49 am GMT

    i agree with others when they say ea games simply took the code from live, removed the skins, and slapped on college athletes onto the live engine when it comes to march madness. i played it once, and i never liked it. 2k took time with college hoops, and i am still in search for the last one they made because they just didnt take the nba2k game, yeah some things ported over, but in the end it was its own game, like playing on a home court and you played well, the stadium would become basically the 6th man and stuff like that. 2k has taken ea for a ride with their games, and that is why ea wound up with exclusive contracts. they were afraid of competition

  • snarl2

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:23 am GMT

    Dead Space is the BEST horror game I have ever played!!! Can't wait for number 2!!!

  • dklingen

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:01 am GMT

    Dead Space was a great PC game - hopefully EA will reconsider and release Dead Space 2 on the PC (this is a sad day)...

  • konartist67

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 9:55 am GMT

    HAHAHAHAHA...NCAA basketball always has and always will be TRASH!! BRING BACK COLLEGE HOOPS!!

  • StromileSwiftee

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 9:41 am GMT

    "After 2K Sports permanently benched its rival College Hoops series"... HUH? I thought it was EA had the licensing rights to college basketball, THAT'S why they stopped making College Hoops. It was a superior game over NCAA, I guess that's why EA wanted exclusivity... look where that got them! Well, I 'll be saying my prayers too, hoping that College Hoops comes back!!!!

  • daabulls23

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 9:03 am GMT

    No March Madness hoops?! How will I be able to take Hofstra to the Final Four?

  • Clutch22

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 8:05 am GMT

    Never played any NCAA basketball games they made, never found basketball to be very fun to play as a video game unless it was NBA Jam or any arcade style, so no big loss there.

  • SaudiFury

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 7:44 am GMT

    There is also supposed to be somesort of big Mass Effect expansion or DLC thing going on.

  • Set_Free

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 6:36 am GMT

    Great... NCAA basketball 2010 always sucked as well as live.... Hopefully they'll release College Hoops 2K11 so i can have a good college basketball experience again!!

  • rello91

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 6:25 am GMT

    college hoops was wayyy!!!!!!! better anyway

  • badtaker

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 5:39 am GMT

    Sad news.Hope they atleast port it after sometime.
    Atleast activision brings every game to PC.

  • efunk25

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 5:09 am GMT

    Well I guess I could see why. I would rather play a NBA Game than NCAA. College B-Ball players stick around a year and then split for the Pros. You never really get a chance to develop any sort of bond with college B-ball players. And as for Rockband. We have good instruments and a good game. Just put out more content to download. The new games are just repetitive.

  • R-ZZZ

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 5:07 am GMT

    Gee, EA. Maybe Dead Space didnt sell on the PC that well because it was not a good port?

  • Robinvd1986

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 4:33 am GMT

    NOOOOO!!!!! give us Dead Space 2 on the pc!!! dont drop it!!

  • HeftySmurf

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 1:46 am GMT

    Dead Space is a masterpiece. Moving it off the PC would be a tragedy.

  • Stalker700

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 1:26 am GMT

    Please...EVERYTHING but the sequel to DS

  • deadspace2

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 12:59 am GMT

    pls dont cancel dead space2 for pc i love dead space series

  • deadspace2

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 12:55 am GMT

    what is this dead space2 not coming to pc why i hate ea if dead space2 not for coming

  • cruandrew

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 11:56 pm GMT

    @ turnerdoc
    when you purchase a new copy of ME2 a code will be available inside the box to unlock the DLC for Free... you have to Redeem the code

  • Onetwoindo

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 11:35 pm GMT

    just release in ps3 if you dont wan to be cracked....

  • turnerdoc

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 11:25 pm GMT

    hey anyone know how to get the free dlc for mass effect 2 that came with the game is it in xbox live or in that card that comes in game and are both dlc out now or is it still just the 1 game was awsome thks

  • korko3

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 11:15 pm GMT

    Bah EA jumps on the "To hell with PC gaming" bandwagon with Ubisoft...

  • mayankahuja

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:50 pm GMT

    oh man i was waitin for dead space 2 for the PC...........dont cancel it

  • FidelSarcastro

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:21 pm GMT

    oh heaven forbid they take a year off from making another NCAA game or Rock Band game... I mean how could gamers live without purchasing the same game every year with a few little improvements? Say it ain't so.

  • jasonlc3221

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:00 pm GMT

    I seriously doubt this will happen, but man oh man, I'm so hoping that March Madness hangs up it's hat so that I can have the return of the 2K College Hoops series. I'm saying my prayers to God before bed every night from now on............."Dear God, please let College Hoops return, and may the March Madness series burn in hell. Amen."

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 9:59 pm GMT

    NCAA and Rock Band missing is understandable. But Dead Space 2 missing is just too cruel!

  • Jedi_Dad

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 9:14 pm GMT

    The only way serious PC development will continue (outside of the independent development houses) is if the pirating issue is addressed. They say 40000 copies have been sold for the PC, but more than likely 100000+ copies exist on hard drives. If companies are not going to make money on a platform, publishers will not make games for it. Economics 101.

  • maaly81

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 9:03 pm GMT

    that ncaa game for past every years sucks

  • JangoWuzHere

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:52 pm GMT

    I hope they don't cancel Dead Space 2 for PC.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:19 pm GMT

    (its not gonna happen BUT) im kind of excited for the collapses of PC gaming, why? Not because I want consoles to succeed, in fact I want just the opposite. Console gamers need to realize that without a PC market tech doesnt get researched and graphics and performance wouldnt leap each console generation like it has been. Without PCs there is no innovation, 1 new console every 10 years definately doesnt strive for constant innovation thats for sure ... pshh

  • GodofBigMacs

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:17 pm GMT

    So what, would there just be no NCAA Basketball game anymore?

  • chaoticchild555

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 7:29 pm GMT

    They better NOT cancel Dead Space 2 on the PC... you know, where it BELONGS!

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