Riccitiello: Star Wars MMO ‘solid and profitable’

Bioware’s The Old Republic has been a successful release for publisher Electronic Arts, the company’s CEO has claimed.

Speaking to CNBC, John Riccitiello said the plan for the MMO had always been to surpass one million subscribers, and believes the current number of registered users had beaten those expectations.

“When we originally started the franchise, our plan was to break one million subscribers,” he said.

“Our investment case was 1.2 million. We told the street yesterday we’re at 1.3 million. We happened to have an earnings call right in the launch period, where we hit 1.7 million.

“We have an obligation to tell them the facts. I think it’s a solid success.”

The EA CEO added that the title was never meant to surpass the success of publisher’s other franchises such as FIFA and Madden, despite reports the title may have cost between $200m and $500m.

“Some people are treating it like it’s the only thing that matters,” he said.

“For what it’s worth, it’s a solid, successful and profitable franchise.”