EA Confirms New Mercenaries Game

EA has confirmed Mercs Inc will be released from the recently downsized and relocated Pandemic Studios.The new game will come from the EALA, Pandemic’s new home, and will be developed by that “core team” which EA has left in place to continue with Pandemic IPs. Although 200 staff were shed and the studio executives left, EA said it would continue to support the core Pandemic team in LA.EA hasn’t given any details of what to expect from the game, or whether the title’s focus has shifted. We still don’t know what platforms it’ll be released on or have any idea when the game is due for release, but EA group general manager Nick Earl has said it’s coming via a post by an administrator on the official Pandemic Studios community forums.”We are very excited to announce a new instalment [sic] in the popular Mercenaries series because it demonstrates our continued commitment to Pandemic’s rich catalogue of intellectual properties,” said Earl.With the “core [Pandemic] team” now at EALA, Earl said that they were “forging new ground and conceptualising new ideas for this exciting franchise.”But we’ve contacted EA and we’ve not had any response at all other than the standard “we don’t comment on rumour or speculation” line, and it may be this announcement was made as a damage limitation exercise after the video leak was released on Bitmob yesterday.But it’s not the only franchise Pandemic was happy with and speaking to members of The Saboteur team a couple of weeks ago, before the closure announcement, we know the studio had big plans for this IP too.We’ll continue to harass EA and will report back to you as soon as we know more details on the game, but what are your thoughts on Pandemic’s IPs? Have you got a favourite game, and what would you like to see improved in the newest Mercs title if there is one?