EA: Tablets and smartphones getting close to console-quality graphics

Speaking to IGN, EA Labels president Frank Gibeau revealed that smartphones and tablets are rapidly approaching the computing power of consoles. Gibeau said that "in the near future, the next wave of tablets and phones will have nearly Xbox 360 or PS3 capabilities in terms of graphics", and added that 'some engine technology that used to be console-specific now can, with modifications, be able to power games on tablets and on phones in the near future. These games won't be straight ports though, Gibeau acknowledged that you can't just bring it over and have a virtual D-pad on the tablet, instead the developers will have to redesign the game around "touch, voice and camera".

According to Gibeau, that transition won’t be as simple as a straight port, though.

“You have to redesign the game,” he explained. “You can’t just bring it over and have a virtual D-pad on the tablet. It doesn’t work. You have to re-architect it around touch, voice, camera. Our teams are having a lot of fun with that, reimagining an experience on a tablet using the same graphics and assets in some ways, but completely remixing the meal. Same ingredients, completely different meal. That’s kind of the way we think about it.”