EA has added another string to their sports franchise bow with the acquisition of Metalhead Software, the developers of Super Mega Baseball. Now under the EA Sports label, Metalhead will continue to develop the Super Mega Baseball franchise, as well as develop “new gaming and sports experiences”.
Founded in 2009, Metalhead’s success has been in creating an original sports franchise that tries to balance an arcade style with the depth of a sports simulation. The first game released in 2014 for PS3 and PS4, before spreading to Xbox in 2015 with an expanded game. It was followed by the fully multiplatform Super Mega Baseball 2 in 2018 and then Super Mega Baseball 3 in May 2020. The games have been consistently well received with SMB3 reaching an 87 score on Metacritic.
Scott Drader, Co-Founder of Metalhead Software said, “Our team has worked hard over the years to refine a formula that uniquely mixes an arcade style with deep on-field gameplay and innovative co-operative and competitive multiplayer experiences. In this next chapter, we’re excited to leverage EA’s power and reach to bring our titles to a broader audience and to take some ambitious next steps in the development of our future titles.”
It’s another major move by EA to expand their EA Sports roster, which has seen them announce that a new College Football game is in development, the revival of an EA developed PGA Tour golf game, and the acquisition of UK-based racing specialists Codemasters meaning that the F1 franchise is now under the EA Sports umbrella. This is all while FIFA, Madden NFL, NHL and UFC games continue with their yearly entries.
In our review of Super Mega Baseball 3, Gareth wrote:
Super Mega Baseball 3 is a good upgrade over its predecessor. The new franchise mode and player traits add depth, but it’s still built around accessible baseball fun. If you want a sports game to enjoy with friends, something a bit less hardcore than MLB The Show, then Super Mega Baseball 3 is a great shout.
Source: EA
