After 16 editions built around a partnership that began in 1998, Electronic Arts has announced that its partnership with Tiger Woods is at an end. According to EA, the split is a mutual decision.
“EA SPORTS and Tiger Woods have also made a mutual decision to end our partnership, which includes Tiger’s named PGA TOUR golf game,” the press release states. “We’ve always been big fans of Tiger and we wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.”
In 2010, back when Woods hit a personal and professional skid that began with a messy divorce, EA continued to support the golfer, but with a caveat. “We have no plans to move away from [Woods], but it’s a business relationship on the basis of we make the best golf game, and he’s the best golfer,” EA’s then-CEO John Riccitiello claimed. The next two years were bad ones for Woods, who went from the top player in the world in terms of money earned through competitions, to the 68th in 2010 and then the 128th in 2011. In 2012, he turned things around though and finished in second place. He is currently the world money leader through 2013.
Despite the loss of the Tiger Woods’ name, the series will continue. It isn’t clear exactly what that game will be called or when it will come out. This actually marks the first confirmation that the franchise was still alive, following the news that developer EA Tiburon would skip at least a year before bringing the franchise back. Most assumed it would eventually return, but following the end of EA’s college football series, along with the shakeups at the top of EA that saw a new president named, you can’t take anything for granted.
“Moving forward, we will continue to work with the PGA TOUR exclusively to create groundbreaking golfing titles and our partnership remains strong,” the statement continues. “EA SPORTS is committed to creating a new golf experience that leverages the best technologies across EA to deliver a stunning and immersive game for mobile and next generation consoles.”
More news is promised “soon.”
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