Developers Don’t Take Kindly To EA’s Single-Player Gag On Twitter

The new meme on the block has been making the rounds on Twitter recently, with everyone weighing in and joining in on the tag. Born out of a game on Tiktok, They’re a 10 but is meant to be a lighthearted joke where you bring up one flaw about someone who is otherwise perfect. All in good faith of course — no one real!

Gaming giant EA decided to join in on the joke in a way that ruffled many people’s feathers, VGC reports. The developer shared its take on the joke early this morning, and it was quickly met with ire.

Once upon a time, you may remember that former EA Games President Frank Gibeau said “I have not green lit one game to be developed as a single-player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365.” And in 2017, EA’s CFO suggested that many don’t enjoy linear games “as much today as they did five years ago”.

Nowadays, Electronic Arts are doing a bit better on that front with the success of Jedi: Fallen Order along with the upcoming sequel, the Dead Space remake, and a new Dragon Age title. But yesterday’s tweet brought out a lot of feelings in people, including developers who had worked with EA in the past.

A former producer at EA and Visceral Games — someone who was behind the original Dead Space and Dante’s Inferno — Zach Mumbach, was not happy with the company’s tweet, calling them out for shutting down his studio and laying off “~100 great developers”

It’s not just former developers who are commenting on the poorly worded joke, either. Head of Respawn Entertainment Vince Zampella, the studio behind Apex Legends, Jedi: Fallen Order, and recent Medal of Honor games, gave a very concise response.

God of War director Cory Barlog has also weighed in subtly on the argument.

And the publisher of Neon White, A Memoir Blue, and The Artful Escape Annapurna had some sage advice for EA.

Twitch streamer and YouTuber The Act Man also took the time to remind EA of an upcoming game that it’s publishing, which is a single-player experience.

However, EA has since backpedalled on the joke after being called out and dunked on by many people online.

We understand it’s not easy running a social media account, nonetheless, this was a little bit of a slip-up considering EA’s history and the comments previous employees have made around single-player and multiplayer experiences.

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