Playfish to build on EA IP this year

Social game studio Playfish has confirmed that this year it will be developing a new project based on a “well-known” EA IP.

Speaking to Develop in December, Playfish CEO Kristian Segerstrale said he was excited by “the opportunity to work with some of the most loved franchises in the videogame industry, and perhaps bringing those onto social networks.”

Those comments followed speculation that Playfish was going to develop a Facebook game based on The Sims – a prospect with extraordinary potential when considering how both the developer and brand have flourished in the casual market.

Certainly, it’s a prospect that could go some way in remunerating the $300-400 million EA has paid for the studio.

Now Segerstrale has made further hints that a Playfish edition of The Sims is going through the concept stage. A Wall Street Journal report paraphrases Segerstrale as saying “there will be a social game based on a well-known EA brand this year”

EA purchased Playfish for at least $300 million in November, with the publisher’s CEO John Riccitiello talking up the importance of social gaming for the publisher’s realigned strategy.