NBA Live 13 could be Digital only release

An interesting development this morning as NBA Live 13 has shown up on a list of current or upcoming digital content eligible for the Xbox Live Rewards program. “Full Game – NBA Live 13 – Digital” is listed as is “NBA Live 13 – Digital – DLC”.

There is some reason to now believe that NBA Live 13 may be releasing as a digital download rather than retail product. EA Sports has yet to reveal a cover athlete for the game – a far less important event if there will be no physical cover. They have also not announced any retailer pre-order incentives which obviously would be unnecessary if the game never reaches stores. Confusion over release date at retailers could also point to plans that they won’t be receiving the product down the line as EA would have no reason to provide them that otherwise necessary information. That EA’s own store, Origin, doesn’t list Live 13 for pre-order is just as telling.

It would be a huge step for EA Sports to go full digital on a major release. They may be looking to combat NBA 2K by going such a route of differentiation though ultimately it could also be their demise by venturing into unfamiliar territory and limiting consumer reach. It would be much more difficult to sell the game at a full $60 digitally than in stores where physical copies offer the perks of pre-order deals and the ability to sell the game later and recoup some of the costs. If the NBA were to allow EA to release at a lower price point though – something that seems somewhat unlikely – it would make it much more interesting to see the results of such an experiment.

- Pastapadre

Definitely not unheard of. Dyn@sty Warrior recently went digital-only in the US, as will the new One Piece game I think. Not a bad choice either, although they should consider those that would rather cop nba 2k13 at a higher price given its est@blished "value" rather than jump back into the Live series for the same price digitally. This game should be $40-$50 at the most just to test the waters for this sort of thing.

Sounds like we may get some half[..]ed product, and EA knows it.

I'm all for downloadable games, but the way EA has handled Live 13 so far, I'm not too excited. Getting skeptical.

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Please give up the NFL license so 2k can destroy them in that also

yeah before 2k forgets how dope 2k5 was and make some other crap like they did with that crappy[..] old school game football game again [pic]

[pic] !! niccas its called dlc for a reason

[pic] foh

[pic] 4 threads in 1 week on live 13 compared to 1 weak[..] 2k13 thread

L [pic]

I [pic]

V[pic]

E[pic]

Digital Download isn't the same thing as DLC... and I always said i'll buy whichever one looks the best to me... Last couple ey ars it's been 2K...if Live looks like the better game i'll support it

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EA sports lost

Technically it is. It's still Downloadable Content.

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I had such high hopes for the Live comeback [pic]

But all this recent speculation is !!in it up



Guess imma be on dat 2k13 and getting my exploits on [pic]

Poor NBA live.. back in the day the series was the !! (SNES, Genesis, PS1, PC), but from like 2000 on the series was complete garbage. Dont get me started on that ELITE demo from few years ago, that !! was extremely bad.

I would love to see NBA LIVE make a good comeback, but they gotta focus more on defense and not as many crazy dunks all the time. The last few years of NBA LIVE/Elite that !! was just a dunk contest, very arcadey and unrealistic. Only thing they did well the last few years live was around was that the servers where very good (not many disconects or lag,etc..)

[pic] Another L for live

Nope, you're wrong. "Content" is a piece of a whole. If you're downloading the whole then it's not content. By your definition anything downloadable is DLC which isn't true.

Four thread pointing out nba lives demise, dat makes u happy huh?! [pic]

The damn ISP capping data and !! so downloading games ain't the key here.

I used to be one of the biggest Live fans out there up to the PS2 days but now EA just needs to give it up...the few screens I saw look like the same garbage they've been trying to sell for years..cartoony graphics, unrealistic jerseys and likely unchanged gameplay....I'll pass and stay with 2K. [pic]

did u say digital??[pic]
only reason i'd consider buying it now

still gettin 2k 1st day tho[pic]

Things r starting to get weird. This isnt good. They need to release gameplay footage ASAP if im gonna take this seriously.

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YEA something isn't right. Something is going on..