EA held its annual investor conference today, in which it announced that it plans to invest up to $80 million in development for games on the next generation console systems in the fiscal year of 2013.

The publisher's investment is a clear indication that both Sony and Microsoft plan to step up their game with the unveiling of new platforms next year, which are likely to hit shelves before the end of next Christmas.

EA also provided investors with a firm release date on Crysis 3, which it says it plans to release in the first quarter of 2013. The publisher has also dated the release of a new Need for Speed title in the fourth quarter this year. As the latter game has yet to be officially announced, we expect EA to make a big showing with it at E3 next month.

EA also said the Dead Space franchise will see a new release during the publisher's 2013 fiscal year.

"At the foundation is another year of blockbuster brands: Madden NFL, FIFA, Sim City, Medal of Honor, Dead Space, and Need for Speed as well as mobile hits like The Simpsons Tapped Out, and Bejeweled," EA said.

It's unclear if this is Dead Space 3 or a different game in the series. In a follow up e-mail, a spokesperson told Game Informer, "There’s no further information today but watch for several big product announcements from EA at E3 in June."

EA is rumored to be developing Dead Space 3 from Visceral Games. A report from last year suggests the game will take place on an ice planet and not a space ship.

EA's 2013 fiscal year ends March 31, 2013.

We'll provide further details about the investor call in related news updates.