Housemarque Explains Why Nex Machina Is Only on PS4 & PC; Talks PS4 Pro Support, Switch and Scorpio

Housemarque Head of Publishing Mikael Haveri Explains why the developer is sticking with PS4 and PC for Nex Machina, for the moment.

[Freedomland]

Developing for PS4 and PC is the safest bet for the developers this gen.

[freshslicepizza]

Not really when software sales usually go PS4, Xbox then PC for software sales.

Ask yourself why Red Dead Redemption 2 is only coming to the PlayStation and Xbox. This anti Xbox attitude just makes you look ignorant. If they are going to support Windows 10 PC how difficult do you think it is to also support Xbox?

[Why o why]

lol....jeese moldy stating something doesn't mean its anti anything... Sometimes you take anything remotely against ms or just pro others to heart. The devs are explaining their reasons and others agree....no hate campaign.

Maybe you should ask yourself why this ps4 pc pairing is so common this gen or bring up your comment where you believed cuphead should be on the ps4 also as its the top console for software sales.

[freshslicepizza]

So common? Name one major Western game without some side deal made by Sony.

[Why o why]

Major.....who even mentioned major.. Me? the article?...who? This article is about an indy dev about an indy game so my comment is relevant to that. Nice try though

[Sunny_D]

Are you sure Moldy? The April NPD seems to think otherwise lmao.

[freshslicepizza]

"The devs are explaining their reasons and others agree."

You mean the same developers who made Killzone and Super Stardust? They obviously have great relations with Sony, which is what this is about.

So please excuse me as I laugh at others agreeing with the developers on a forum that has FAR FAR more than the actual representatiions of the 2-1 ratio of PS4 to Xbox One userbase out there. What's next the PC community is also represented more on this site too that supports the claim that it makes the most sense to developers?

[notachance]

"If they are going to support Windows 10 PC how difficult do you think it is to also support Xbox?"

let's hear it from moldy who knows better how difficult it is to support XB when you already support PC, apparently he knows better than the many developers who only support PS4 and PC themselves

[jznrpg]

I am thoroughly convinced you work for Microsoft

[Last_Boss]

@Moldy, hit up House Marquee

[Chevalier]

@Moldy

So now Moldy is some sort of developer expert. Want to tell us how many man hours, wages, publishing cost would go into developing for Xbox, and potential sales with your cost versus benefit analysis? With links to explain it and dumb it down for everyone that doesn't understand? Pretty sure you can explain that right?

Also how come you don't complain about Cuphead, Below and Ori and the Blind Forest for example which just as easily could be ported to PS4 for the benefit of the gaming community as well? Weird. Strange even.

Your anti Xbox Crusade is hilariously bad. No company owes you an explanation for their business choices. They are doing whatever keeps their company alive just like all those studios making Xbox/PC exclusives. Don't like it? Stop gaming. No one owes you anything so if its not on your favourite system then too bad. I got an Xbox for a handful of games to play. If you want those games so bad get a PS4 or PC like everyone else.

[darthv72]

Moldy, I get your passion for supporting MS but seriously. Not every PC game is being made with UWP in mind. UWP is the ingredient to making a PC game also work on the xb1. So while these guys are supporting PS4 and PC, they are doing it in a way that is not bound to W10 or UWP and will likely be available on Steam which means it would be available to people on W7, W8 or hell... even XP.

Now if MS were to approach them and offer help in making it UWP then there would be a chance it could come to xb1 but for now it is where it is.

[freshslicepizza]

Chevalier
"Also how come you don't complain about Cuphead, Below and Ori and the Blind Forest for example which just as easily could be ported to PS4 for the benefit of the gaming community as well? Weird. Strange even."

Why would I complain about games funded or published by them when this isn't what the discussion was even regarding, unless of course it really is about a backroom deal? Someone said the PC and PS4 are the safest bets, then why do every major publisher support the Xbox? No answer given at all here. Or trying to assume the PS4/PC development is all too common but neglects to mention that is really to do with Indie developers who don't often have the funds to do multiple console ports?

Someone also mentioned it's about risk/reward but the same developer has made 2 Vita games. Where is the Vita now?

Then I get questioned because I said this all started from the same anti-Xbox attitude we get daily. Want proof from the original poster?

http://n4g.com/news/1959423...

The representation of gamers out there for all platforms from Nintendo, Xbox and the PC are not at all in reality to what happens here. Trying to discuss things with you guys shows how painful it is and this is the problem I have with a forum that is totally lopsided. Every counter I give goes ignored and if all else fails then the personal attacks happen. Same old same old.

[rainslacker]

Housemarque is a pretty competent dev. I doubt the porting of the code is the issue.

Or, maybe it is. If you cared to read what the dev said

"There are always weird costs and time things involved if you want to go on more platforms. We’re very familiar with PlayStation 4 and our engine runs on PC. Those both seem to be big viable markets as well so when you put one and one together you get the two platforms we’re at right now."

So, looking at this quote, there are cost involved which have to be paid to put their game on other platforms. These are called licensing costs, as well as the cost to get a dev kit(Housemarque isn't so low on the indie scale to use the free to publish marketplaces).

Then, you get into the technical about how hard it might be to port to Xbox.

Well, their engine already support PC and PS4. So, PS4 is a given, they've been publishing there for a while. Their game engine runs on PC. So, putting the game on PC is easy enough. Their engine doesn't run on Xbox. So, they can't simply hit a button and suddenly it works on Xbox. They actually have to add Xbox support to their engine. While not an impossible task, it still takes time, and right now, that time may not be condusive to getting their game done. This isn't some matter of the simple porting that some people believe UWP brings, because the game wasn't built with UWP in mind, and UWP still isn't as simple as some make it sound.

Now that we cleared that up, by using the devs own words which I explained to you in fairly simple terms, does it make sense why they choose PS4 and PC, and are not looking to do the Xbox port right now?

If not, maybe the "Those both seem to be big viable markets as well", it's pretty telling that Housemarque believes that PS4 and PC are big enough markets to support the release of this game, while XBox isn't as viable given their circumstance, likely involved with the game engine.

[modelgod]

Exactly! !

[Chevalier]

Lopsided discussion? Like how you try to railroad all discussions a certain way or move goalpost? A lot of those games on PS4 are funded just like Ori, Below and Cuphead are funded either by the publishing deal or pubfund just like how almost all the House Marque has been by Sony. There is little difference. Yet you are blasting House Marque and Sony for the same thing. You know what they call that? Bias. You complain only for MS and against Sony and any indie studio that doesn't see the benefit of releasing on Xbox is part of some backroom deal, but, the same kind of deals by MS funding get a pass? Gtfo.

You assume all these studios have unlimited resources, time and it is some kind of simple process to port. Its not. You clearly have no understanding of that. Why would a small studio with limited resources release on Xbox + PC over PS4 +PC? The same amount of work gets them a wider market to the tune of 30+ million more potential customers. So lets go over basic math and probability.

Small indie studios may have limited time, resources, funds and people to do the work. Its not presto lets hit one button and its done. For those small groups.

PS4+PC >>>>> Xbox+PC. Fact. Not arguable.

Its pretty basic logic. Wrap your tiny mind around that.

[Ron_Danger]

Any one else notice whenever articles come out like this, Moldy always shows up and cry-rants over it?! He acts like one of those women on reality dating shows that doesn't understand why she was eliminated early, and then acts all ignorant when presented with the facts.

Get over it moldy. You are a fanboy so you are looking at the situation like a fanboy. Devs have to look at the risk/ reward ratio when choosing where to put their assets and right now the Xbox 1 has a higher risk than PS4/ pc of not selling. If big AAA games on Xbox 1 are struggling to break 500k sales in the first month, what hope do smaller indie devs have at making a profit, let alone break even?

[freshslicepizza]

These guys made 2 games for the PlayStation Vita and you want to educate me on risks? Your out of your league here.

[Ron_Danger]

"These guys made 2 games for the PlayStation Vita and you want to educate me on risks? Your out of your league here."

*you're out of your league

Moldy mindset: can't come up with a real argument so deflect to a different console to try to argue your point.

Also what are you even arguing here for? It's a PS4/ pc game in developement and if you're that upset just get it for pc and move on. All you ever do is nit pick articles that have any shred of positivity towards a Sony product and then whine and complain about it being basically unfair.

You're so childish.

[ILostMyMind]

He despairs when he sees that every kind of Microsoft promise is not fulfilled, like this one that any PC game is compatible with XBOX, but not.

[xsta1ker]

wow you watch women reality dating tv shows how empty is your little black book...
don't watch to much or you'll end up with a loaf of bread between your legs lol

[rainslacker]

It's really wierd, because he claims that he's more into PC than XBox, yet he's crying over the Xbox version not existing, despite being able to play the game on PC.

@Moldy

Housemarques games on Vita were published by Sony or another 3rd party publisher, ,so there wasn't much risk on their part. It's different when you're self-publishing. If you have publisher backing, your bills are paid during the development so long as you deliver on milestones.

Now that I've educated you on risks, I will say that you were never in a league to begin with. You have no clue what you're talking about, and i wonder if you even know what you're trying to say or imply with your comments.

[LordJamar]

sounds a little like bias to me but meh its cool to hate xbox nowadays

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

It has nothing to do with bias. It has more to do with the most efficient way to get your game to be seen by as many people as possible in the shortest time possible and that's all this is.

[Krysis]

Yeah I feel like the average age of gamers is around 8 years old, given the comment sections on n4g

[LordJamar]

whatever you say man to each there own

[XanderZane]

The game would sell more copies on the XBox platform then on the PC. These guys are clueless. If they can get the game to run on the PC already, it would be a synch to port it to the Scorpio. They could have developed both at the same time with not much more in cost. Oh well, their lost. I could easily get this for the PS4, but their poor attitude toward other platforms will turn gamers away.

[AspiringProGenji]

More like will turn you away. If you have all consoles there shouldn't be anything to stop you from getting this game. Don't worry about MS. They don't care

[MasterCornholio]

They would still have to port to X1 as well and not just Scorpio.

[Abracadabra]

"Housemarque Explains Why Nex Machina Is Only on PS4 & PC"

Housemarque has a console exclusive deal with Sony. Simple as that.
Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo all have these kind of deals with 3rd party.

[JEECE]

I appreciate their focus, but there are some houaemarque games that would be perfect for the switch. I'll be happy to play them on PS4, though.

[Goldby]

Resogun would be amazing on switch

[ninsigma]

True, that would be an awesome on the go title.

[BlakHavoc]

Yes! Also Nex Machina looks like it would thrive on Switch. Pretty much anything indie and any JRPG would be better on Switch.

[Eonjay]

Agreed. I would have to buy one at that point lol

[jznrpg]

@BlakHavoc why would jrpgs be better on Switch ? I definitely want jRPGS on Switch but I dont see how they would be better. There are a lot of games that are on PS4 and vita, and some I buy on Vita and some on PS4. I lile the Vita version but generally the PS4 has better features they just aren't portable

[Last_Boss]

@Blak No they all wouldn't. Not all JRPG's are they same.

[WeAreLegion]

It IS an awesome on the go title. It's on the Vita. Just get a Vita. Jesus. This is why the Vita died. You all ignored it. Now that the Switch is getting literally the exact same support, people are excited? WTF?

[Gran Touring]

what would make their games better on the switch, I'm curious?

[buttcheeks]

He can walk to elementary school and play them that's why it is better on switch

[MasterCornholio]

He didn't say they would be better on the Switch just that they would work well on that platform. I only played Super Stardust and Rezogun but those games be great on a portable. Heck I played Stardust on Vita and it's amazing.

[LiViNgLeGaCY]

@Above,
No, he literally said indies and JRPG's would be better on the switch. Literally.

[ILostMyMind]

This is why Sony shoud make a PSP3.

[WeAreLegion]

But several of them are already on the Vita. Why Switch? The Vita fits in a pocket. The Switch needs a backpack.

[kevnb]

gotta go where the money is.

[thejigisup]

True gotta make games where people will play them.

[pinkcrocodile75]

Wow, that's a little ignorant isn't it.

[JackBNimble]

Truth hurts... 60million VS....

[XanderZane]

Games are played on every plattform. So the game should be on every platform.

[LordJamar]

vs what 40mil? is that supposed to be bad

[showtimefolks]

Jamar

LOL how about 28-30 million max

2-1 ratio or above

Or are you making up numbers to make your argument seem better

My guess

Ps4 around 62-65 million
Xbox one 30-33 million

[LordJamar]

i dont get it is that still bad? the switch must be garbage to you ppl then. xbox can sell 60mil ps4 can double that does that mean xbox still didnt sell anything? it can go on and on but i dont play sales game im just saying it seems like a stupid bash/troll

[AmUnRa]

40mil?? So you think the Xbone sold about 40mil??
O boy, wake up and smell the cofee.
The PS4 has past the 60.000.000 and thats the true. Let me see a link that the Xbone is at 40mil. O, you cant?? So yeah, you pulled it out of *ss.🙄🙄

[LordJamar]

@amunra just missing the point entirely

[Why o why]

LordJamar

I get the point you're trying to make but these devs also have to look at the demographics and the sales of certain games across the board. Certain games sell better on certain platforms. This isn't some myth. That 40 mil thing is a myth though but we know for certain its more than the switch right now. I mean, if what you and a few others are implying should be norm then there would be absolutely zero devs making games that aren't on the ps4..... We all know that's not what you're all saying. Sometimes its easier to pick a viable 1 or 2 platforms for some devs. Obviously there's other factors at play but devs have to think of their situations more than some consumers feelings.

[mocaak]

"'Maybe twenty years down the line we will have special collectors editions for other platforms.'” LOL

[XXanderXX]

If the studio even exsit by then or maybe next year .lol lol

[Why o why]

BUUUUURN

that bitter comment by xander

that destructive retort by somedude

People need to get over this. MS had their fair share of indy loving last gen. This gen sony wooed indies

[XanderZane]

Maybe they will be in the unemployment line within the next year or two when their games flop. With their poor attitude, there will never be any special collectors editions for any of their games.

[Aenea]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

They've been at it since '96, they haven't made an Xbox game in 6 years, I'm sure they will be fine....

[XanderZane]

@Aenea
I'm sure Xbox gamers will be fine not playing this game as well. I actually have played many of their games. Played Super Stardust HD, Golf! Tee it Up! Dead Nation, Outland, Resogun and Alienation. Most of them are good, but they are all Indie games. It does seem they are more found of the PS platform since they really haven't made many Xbox games. XBox fans aren't going to be missing much. PS fans didn't miss Max: The Curse of Brotherhood or Ori and the Blind Forest did they?

[notachance]

it's this kind of attitude that makes XB fanboys disgusting

[MasterCornholio]

Wishing for the developers to lose their jobs just because they don't make the game for your platform of choice is just sick.

It's your attitude that's poor not the developers.

[XanderZane]

@notachance
Platform favoritism from developers is even more disgusting. Especially when it's a platform that is almost 100% compatible with the other platform you are making the game for. It's just dumb.

@MasterCornholio
I don't care. I'll speak my mind with my wallet. Tired of developers acting like idiots and making snide comments. They can keep their game. Won't but it on any platform.

[XXanderXX]

Then I will hold onto my money till theirs an Xbox one S version.

[XXanderXX]

What you people act like am supposed to run out buy another platform so to support this studio . Not happening either make an Xbox version or farewell, simple as that .

[Ceaser9857361]

or you could either buy the PS4 or dont play and dont be salty for nothing...

[Why o why]

the amount of quality you're missing out on by choice is indicative of you're resistance to the ps4...... One does not usually buy a console for one game alone but a library but yous like you are good at waiting so ......wait

[steveo123456]

You in n4g, you must have heard by now it's all about the exclusives

[Liqu1d]

So bitter, you even secretly hope they shut down. Sad, oh well your loss.

[XXanderXX]

@Why o Why not missing out on anything besides I would rather play Mario switch or upgrade my crappy PC than buy Sony/PS platform . So like I clearly stated either theirs version in the works for Xbox or take care .

[Last_Boss]

Same can be said for Cuphead. I hope you support them

[Last_Boss]

Then you'll hold your money and watch it on YouTube.

[XXanderXX]

YouTube is garbage , Better off on Twitch or beam

[Last_Boss]

Better off not complaining at all.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

What happened with Matterfall?

[Forn]

They're making both. This one just clearly happened to be farther along.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Difference between one being deeper into development vs the other going completely dark. I'm not asking where is the game, but there hasn't been a peep about it since forever.

[buttcheeks]

Matter fall might be a bigger game so it could take longer than their other games it could pop up at e3 but I doubt it

[Dragonscale]

Tbh housemarque do tend to develop mainly for PlayStation.

[ocelot07]

Resogun in 4K and HDR gives me seizures.......and I love it.

[XanderZane]

I feel the same way about Ori and the Blind Forest.

[Chaos_Order]

So many people are convinced that exclusives (or games that are only on select platforms) only ever exist because corporate fat cat console manufacturers push money across the table and put a stranglehold on the videogame market, whipping the knuckles of innocent developers who "just wanna make games for the people!" and forcing them to make games for only their systems. They are convinced that this is the one and only reason games are not released on every current platform, that this is the one hurdle between us and the great multiplat utopia that will let everyone play every game no matter what they buy!

Here we have just one developer out of many who don't do that for financial or practicality reasons. No money has changed hands, just like thousands of other games that got released on limited platforms this gen, and are still to be released. Even the Vita is getting full exclusives (like the upcoming Mary Skelter Nightmares and Death Mark) without any involvement by Sony.

If you hope for a future where every game is multiplat, that's absolutely fine. But don't act like it's only being prevented by evil executives in ivory towers, or that the best choice for every developer is to release their games on every system, every time, always. Like I said before, the only way to reach that ultimate multiplat utopia is to completely change the gaming landscape and tread over manufacturers and developers alike. This is the truth, no matter how much you might want to deny it.

But I'm sure people will still disagree with me because "No you wouldn't have to do that. If exclusives became multiplats nothing would change." (A quote from a 343_Guilty_Spark post about this topic.) Or maybe they'll accuse me of straight up wanting to restrict which games people can play on their systems for "teh console wars", or something... Yeah because accepting a fact means I must like that fact, right? Couldn't possibly be any other way. XD

[Gh05t]

Wait so how is taking money from a "big corporate fat cat" and "Here we have just one developer out of many who don't do that for financial or practicality reasons." Different?

Both are related to financial decisions, Maybe they never got an offer from ivory towers, so there is nothing to take.

"No money has changed hands..." but he did say this "...these are the business deals we have now." which implies there was some form of compensation otherwise you wouldn't need a "deal".

[ShottyatLaw]

As was pointed out by Ghost, they literally said they have a business deal in place.

For smaller studios that could be just some resources and promotional help, or some money to help finish a game. Can't blame the little guys for making smart business deals, even though it stinks for many players left out.

[Chevalier]

It sucks, but, cost versus benefit. Limited staff, budget, scope, time, market share and a lot of thing to consider along with risk involved. Some people think spreading themselves thin is a good idea? What happens if they do every single system for a marginal bump in sales, but, the product is shoddy and it ruins that companies reputation? How would a small indie studio bounce back? They don't have coffers of money to fall back on. Yet they should risk their livelihoods and business for some handful of random people that might buy their game?! Really? They are also competing in a highly competitive market.

Seriously wonder is Moldy and everyone that thinks Xbox is being screwed actually know what actually goes into making games. If they owned businesses in the real world maybe they would understand its not that easy. You can't push a button and presto all the versions get made.

[Chevalier]

Yeah its not like some indie company would want to maximize market potential or try to make the most of their time. I mean they have unlimited man hours and budget don't they? I honestly think that button that ports all the games so easily isn't being used enough. Its a travesty really what the heck are all these small indie studios doing not spreading themselves thin and trying to do too much. Its insanity! S/

[Chaos_Order]

Well, either the devs haven't found the magical port button that comes with every dev kit or they deliberately want to make as little money as possible. Those are the only reasons, I'm sure. ;)

But anyway, it's funny when people do everything to demand a multiplat utopia but then stop making noise so long as it hits PC/XBO/PS4. (Or in some cases, so long as it hits PC, nothing else matters) Where's my Vita port? 3DS? Switch? Wii U? Smartphone? Come on, people. These eeeeeeevil devs are only releasing their games on 3 systems! And think of all the people still playing on PS3 and X360. Are you going to tell them to *gasp* buy a new system to play certain games? You are clearly an evil elitist who wants to restrict what games people can play! I want everything on Vita, damn it! If you're against that, then you must be eeeeeeevil!

[TheColbertinator]

PC then.

[UCForce]

PS4 and PC, buddy.

[DillyDilly]

So basically Sony & PC has exclusive deals is the short version as said by this quote in the article - But again, for Nex Machina, these are the business deals we have now

[krypt1983]

who cares there games are so trash they give them away as psplus games b4 they are even a yr old

[UCForce]

Their game are trash, hud ? Yeah, right. 🙄

[WeAreLegion]

Even as a person who dislikes twinstick shooters, I can't deny how good Housemarque games are. You need to try them.

[modelgod]

@Krysis. You know what's sad ? The average age of a gamer is 34. Average age of a Sony game is probably 16.