A long rumoured ‘Origin for Wii U’ deal edges closer between Nintendo and Electronic Arts as EA reveal it will use its database to collect information from Nintendo’s online customers.
An update to EA’s privacy policy reveals that, should a customer play any of the publisher’s games through a Nintendo Wii U console, “your Nintendo account information will be provided to EA so that we can establish an Origin Account for you”. The policy also adds that “You need an Origin Account to play EA’s titles online” and “Information transferred to EA includes your Mii information, email address, Nintendo Network ID, friend list, country, language and date of birth but does not include credit card number or other financial account information.”
From EA’s perspective, the pool of data could be used to help it target audiences on Nintendo’s new console. Further down the line it could possibly use play analytics to enhance game experiences.
Nintendo has suggested previously that the Wii U online games platform – which still remains a relative unknown – will be open for third parties to host their own services.
The platform holder has confirmed a Wii U release date of November 18 in the US and November 30 in Europe. The company has set the price of the Wii U at $299 in the US for the basic model, while the UK price starts at £230.
