It’s in the game (engine): Interactive sports’ tech evolution

Unlocking Unrivaled Authenticity: The Tech Behind EA Sports’ Immersive Worlds at Web Summit Vancouver 2026

Nathan Downer, Anchor for CTV Toronto, introduced Andrew Pojar, VP and Head of Technology for EA Sports, at Web Summit Vancouver 2026. Mr. Pojar, a 20-year veteran, discussed how digital technology and data enhance gaming. Historically, motion capture was key, but now EA Sports increasingly relies on real-world sports data from leagues to create authentic animations and reflect player tendencies, like Connor McDavid’s unique movements.

EA Sports strives for photorealistic visuals that blur the line between games and live TV. This involves meticulously recreating digital athletes, stadiums, and environments using advanced rendering on high-powered consoles. The challenge is maintaining this quality during interactive gameplay, translating real-world data into accurate player motion and decision-making for a deeply immersive simulation.

Mr. Pojar emphasized incorporating the “little things” that define real sports, such as pre-game rituals or post-series handshakes, to fully immerse players. Player rankings are based on extensive real-world data. EA Sports highly values community feedback, integrating it into development through QA testers and direct fan engagement to ensure games resonate.

Game development is a continuous “live service” process with ongoing updates and new features. Teams plan years ahead while managing frequent updates for current titles. Players are empowered to create their own digital versions, even superhuman ones, using the same core technologies as internal developers, fostering immense creativity and engagement.

The social aspect is paramount, enabling friends to play and compete globally. The future envisions more immersive “sandbox” experiences where players can create, build, compete, watch, and share within virtual spaces. AI has been integral to EA Sports’ development for decades, serving as a tool to empower human designers and creators, expanding possibilities rather than replacing roles.

Reflecting on his 25-year tenure, Mr. Pojar highlighted EA Sports’ unique ability to invest significantly in future innovations, building common engines and tools across its sports franchises. The technological growth has been “insane”; early human models were rudimentary, but today, powerful consoles enable physically correct representations of human skeletons, like EA’s “Sapient” technology, allowing real athlete animations to integrate seamlessly and capture intricate details.