EA to partner Microsoft for next Xbox?

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A new report indicates EA will announce a partnership with Microsoft at its next-gen Xbox announcement in April. The partnership would give Microsoft deals with the two largest game publishers.



Microsoft's next-generation Xbox announcement is rumored to take place on April 26, and according to one media outlet, that event will also include a major partnership announcement.

According to a report by ComputerAndVideoGames, Microsoft and Electronic Arts will make a major partnership announcement at the next-gen Xbox unveiling. The website report claims the outlet's sources weren't sure of what the company would show off but said the partnership is already secured.

The deal is noteworthy as EA has been a primary partner of Sony during the current console generation, launching exclusive content on the PlayStation 3 before the Xbox 360. Content for "Battlefield 3," for instance, launched on the PlayStation 3 a week before the Xbox 360. Conversely, Microsoft has maintained a strong partnership with Activision, launching downloadable content for the company's Call of Duty games on the Xbox 360 prior to the PlayStation 3.

During the current console generation, partnerships between console makers and publishers have tended to rely solely on timed exclusives, such as downloadable content launching earlier on one console. It's unlikely EA's partnership with Microsoft would relate to an exclusive game, although not impossible.

EA representatives were notably absent from Sony's PlayStation 4 announcement last week, although the company has pledged to support the console.

Microsoft is expected to show the physical next-generation Xbox console at its announcement, if comments from a company official are any indication. In addition to the new Xbox console, the company is also reportedly working on a 7-inch gaming tablet called Xbox Surface and a set-top box that features Kinect integration, although it's unknown if those devices will be announced.

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