Third-parties must let go of last-gen at E3 2014

Dealspwn: "This year's E3 needs to be about placing the new consoles front and centre, for all concerned. Not just for the platform holders themselves, but third-party publishers and indie developers too. The PS3 and Xbox 360 have glittering back catalogues, but it's time for the creatives and the businessmen to make the jump from last-gen to this one. "

[AceBlazer13]

Wasn't the PS2 still getting games till recently? Trust me, don't hold your breath waiting for last gen to get the boot.Just hope they can put the effort into next gen. At least Ubi and WB are on the right track.

[FuzzyPixels]

It's not so much about fully abandoning last-gen, more that devs need to be focussing on the new consoles rather than worrying about "feature complete" identical versions across the divide. It's about porting down rather than porting up, shifting primary focus to the PS4 and the Xbox One and then worrying about last-gen versions. It's the only way we'll start seeing games that tap fully into the power and potential of the new consoles.

[KonsoruMasuta]

Devs don't care about you seeing games tap into the power of your next gen console. They want money and cross gen titles appeal to a wide audience.

Why people seem to think developers would suddenly stop trying to make money is beyond me.

[styferion]

The thing is, not every third-party has the fund to survive the jump to only make next-gen version or to make multiple versions of a game simultaneously.
Sure, the ones with mainstream audience like AC, GTA may survive if they decide to only make next-gen version, but what about smaller studios like say, ATLUS or NIS, can they make enough profit making a game only for mere few millions install base? does every owner of this few millions console a niche genre fans that will buy their games?
Sure, if they make a game for next-gen maybe that'll make fans buy the consoles, and in turn buy their games, but how long until that turns into profit?
What should they do in those profitless time? Cease all action, make their employee take leave and then comeback one or two year later when they have accumulate enough to start making another game?

[elhebbo16]

It was only Fifa I believe.

[Dark11]

Yeah this .. I'm just glad that Arkham knight and Witcher 3 are for current gen only.

and hopefully fallout 4 and Mass effect 4 too.

[user5669510]

yeah wouldnt it be smart to support last gen consoles for this whole gen, especially since they are running games in HD

[MarkusMcNugen]

I left N4G a while ago but wanted to comment after reading this article on feedly. I couldn't agree with the author more. Cross-gen parity is killing the PS4 and Xbox One. Being an owner I obviously want the best versions for my money. However its become quite clear the install base for both consoles are wanting more than has been delivered in the last 6 months.

Its like focusing software releases for Windows XP and then porting up to Windows 7. While it may be compatible and works great on both, its pretty much a 100 percent certainty the ported up version will not take advantage of the new ecosystem.

I hope devs will start doing what the author suggests more and more. It would increase sales for both consoles, while providing an incentive for consumers to upgrade.

[GameTavern]

Financially, I don't see what's in it for 3rd parties to not treat all versions as semi-equals. There's still a much larger install base on last-gen hardware

[TheSaint]

Too many people still own one of the last gen, not going to happen for a while yet.

[Eonjay]

Technically, they don't have to let go of anything. All they have to do is create content for their audience, no matter where it is. These are the foibles of being an early adopter. There are million of people who aren't playing the same system as you. As such you have to wait for the audience to migrate before full attention is paid to your device.

What you really want is for more gamers to make the transition to next gen to decrease risk of supporting that hardware.

[jay2]

They won't, due to the cost of development and still small fan base.

[ape007]

well said

[N4g_null]

Plus the jump wasn't big enough to have totally different games.

[No_Limit]

It won't happen for at least another 2 more years as there are over 160 million consoles between PS3/X360 for third party to just give up on it. The best way to do it is to have the main teams work on current gen hardware and contract out last gen's ports to third party.

[Dark11]

Sadly it won't happen for at least another year.

[KakashiHotake]

I agree with this article. It's time for 3rd parties to go all in on next gen. I understand the more platforms they make games for the more money they can make, but next gen is their future and 3rd parties need to help secure it, 1st parties can't do it all alone. While it's true that older consoles had a longer lifespan, devs and publishers need to be aware that they are catering to a entirely different generation now. People are gaming on everything now from phones to tablets.

[Emanno]

So much shooting games of last gen. It's time to release older franchises. One of the reasons why the PS3 for example didn't do so well.

[CerealKiller]

No they don't, its a business and they can do whatever they want. Last gen does not hold back next gen. Just look at watch dogs. Developed for PC as a lead console because they knew this would be the best way to bring the game to all consoles by down scaling where necessary. They will make the game they want and if its next gen only doesn't mean it will be a huge advancement. The only difference thus far is graphical capabilities, which can be easily down scaled. Just because most PC gamers have older graphics cards, this does not mean developers will not make the game they want. Same thing goes for consoles.

[DoggyBiscuit]

All 3rd party developers care about is the Install base

[classic19]

lol, dumm article. that won't happen for sometime to come, HINTS 80 million 360&ps3 out in the world. they see green wouldn't you. they will only lev last gen when both x1&ps4 has 20 million are more consoles in ppls home..

[CerealKiller]

Just because there are 100s of millions of last gen systems in people's homes doesn't mean they will buy their game. Next gen systems have a very high attach rate to new games because the people who bought them are most likely the people who buy games year round. Many of the people who own last gen systems could only own a couple of games or only buy games like call of duty and madden every year. People who own next gen systems are looking for games to buy. Most people with last gen systems are not and have no clue what games are coming out they just buy what their friends tell them to buy.

[XboxSeriesBest]

There won't be a larger install base if devs keep making games for the previous platforms. Once the games are current-gen exclusive the install base will begin to grow.

[MasterofMagnetism]

Not likely since most gamers have not moved to PS4/XB1 yet. Devs will not want to miss out on those potential buyers that are still on last gen.