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More EA Games coming to Switch, Robocop challenges MK

TODAY: Got time to kill? Uncover secrets in Ninja Gaiden III for NES — Get ready for what could be the last Pokémon Rumble Rush event — RoboCop is set to make his first appearance in Mortal Kombat

EA's Q4 FY2020 Report

EA is finally paying attention to Switch

EA has shared their plans for the next fiscal year during their most recent earnings call, and it looks like they’re finally giving the Switch its due.

First out is Burnout Paradise Remastered, coming to Switch this summer and that’s just the beginning of EA’s new commitment as they pledge to “deliver for more Nintendo fans with multiple EA games set to launch on Nintendo Switch this year.”

  • EA’s net income doubled with 12% higher revenue
  • Total revenue increased to$1.39bn from $1.24bn
  • The Sims 4 and Apex Legends drove digital sales

40 launches in FY21: The upcoming fiscal year will see Command & Conquer Remastered and no less than 40 different titles launch on PC and consoles. Multiplatform releases include FIFA 21, Madden 21, NHL 21 and another unannounced EA Sports game.

EA Access for Steam: EA is also bringing their subscription service to Steam, though it won’t be exactly like the Origin Access service. EA will also publish a slew of indie titles over the next year.

Time For A Quick Daily Quiz?

Which of these games featured hidden and not-so-hidden jokes about EA?

  • The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate
  • Ultima 7: The Black Gate
  • Burnout
  • Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

The answer will be revealed at the bottom of today’s issue. Join up with our community on Twitter and Facebook to discuss what the answer could be.

Daily Fact

Ninja Gaiden III rewards patient players

Got 18 minutes you don’t need? Then you can spend them staring at the credits screen displayed when you finish the Japanese version of Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom for NES.

Leave the end credits screen to do its thing for 18 minutes, and lo! A new message will be scrawled across the screen: “TO BE CONTINUED NINJA GAIDEN II” But wait, isn’t this Ninja Gaiden III? Indeed, so the message actually confirms that the third game’s story takes place before Ninja Gaiden II.

Join up with our community on Twitter and Facebook to discuss today’s fact.

Pokemon News and Events

New Pokémon Go Battle League soon, final Pokémon Rumble Rush event?

Pokémon Go Battle League Season 2 starts on May 11th, and the Pokémon Rumble Rush event Greninja and the Wonders of Kalos starts today. Enjoy it while you can, because Pokémon Rumble Rush is shutting down on July 21st.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

  • Greninja and the Wonders of Kalos
    • Lasts from May 5th until May 26th
    • An island focused on Greninja, featuring all Kalos Pokémon
    • Introduces new Gears and more

Pokémon GO

  • New Limited Research Day
    • Snubbull Day on May 9th between 8.00am and 10.00pm
    • 50 Timed Research tasks with no Poké Stop spin required
  • New Incense Day
    • Carvanha Day on May 17th between 11.00am and 5pm
    • Increased spawn rate for Carvanha and other Dark-type and Water-type
    • Alternates hourly between types
  • Raid Bosses shifted until May 12th
    • Altered Forme Giratina with Shiny variant appears as Level 5 Raid Boss
  • One-time purchase box available: 1 Remote Raid Pass for 1 Poké Coin
  • Battle League Season 2 begins May 11th
    • Great League from May 11th until June 1st
    • Ultra League from June 1st until June 22nd
    • Master League and Premier Cup from June 22nd until July 6th
    • All leagues last from July 6th until July 13th
  • Battle League Season 3 starts on July 13th

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath cometh

Gird your loins, gorehounds! Warner Bros. and NetheRrealm Studios have just announced Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath as well as a free content update scheduled for May 26th.

The expansion continues the silly but epic story as Lui Kang the Fire God enlists an unlikely band of allies and foes to “forge a new history as the fate of two worlds hang in the balance.”

Old faces: New and old fighters are being added to the roster, including Fujin and Sheeva. RoboCop is also on the way and will be voiced by actor Peter Weller.

Kindness kills: There are also a bunch of new stages like Klassic Dead Pool and Soul Chamber, as well as new fatalities: Stage fatalities take advantage of environmental features, while Friendship fatalities feature, well, kind kills. NetherRealm’s Ed Boon said: “Both are fan-favourite features that we’re excited to finally bring back to the franchise.”

What Else Happened Today?

Quiz Answer - Did You Get It Right?

Which of these games featured hidden and not-so-hidden jokes about EA?

Answer: Ultima VII: The Black Gate!

EA has been frequently and roundly mocked for their many hare-brained money-making schemes and poor portfolio management, but Origin Studios must have been one of the first to systematically make fun of the game publisher behemoth.

Ultima VII features a cult named The Fellowship – itself a parody of Scientology – with two acolytes named Elizabeth and Abraham. The two are responsible for a number of assassinations that drive the conflict. Their initials? E and A.

That might not look like much of a jab and could be a coincidence, right? But wait! The big baddie named The Guardian uses three primitives to take over the world: The cube, sphere and tetrahedron. Those three shapes composed the logo Electronic Arts used throughout the 80s and 90s. Of course, like any good villain, EA had the last laugh after acquiring Origin in 1992 and later shutting it down.

Today’s issue of DailyBits was written by Gavin Herman, Simon Priest, Erlend Grefsrud, Christian Vaz and Jamie Davey.