NBA Elite 11 cancelled

In an unprecedented move, EA has cancelled the upcoming NBA Elite 11 and shifted the series to a new developer.

It’s the first time EA has missed one of its core annual sports releases and backs up boss John Riccitiello’s public commitment to quality in the publisher’s console output.

The decision was confirmed in a call to investors last night, with the publisher adding that development duties have now been shifted from EA Canada to EA Tiburon.

In September, when EA announced that it was to delay the release of the game, the company stated: We set ambitious goals for NBA Elite, and we are creating a game that will introduce several breakthrough features that have been missing from the basketball genre.

We are going to keep working until we’re certain we can deliver a breakthrough basketball experience. We feel this is in the best interest of our consumers, our company and our shareholders.”

However, EA won’t be without a basketball release this year. NBA Jam, which was once going to be a free inclusion with NBA Elite 11 on Xbox 360 and PS3, is now getting a solo release. And a full-priced solo release at that.