Watch Dogs' lead platform is PC

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says the company is developing on PC first and then porting to consoles like the PlayStation 4, citing Watch Dogs as an example of the strategy.

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Ubisoft hasn't earned the best reputation on PC, with the publisher often releasing games late on the platform. However, Watch Dogs looks to turn things around. According to CEO CEO Yves Guillemot, the game's lead platform is PC, which means that the console versions--including the newly-announced PlayStation 4 iteration--will be ports of the PC title.

In a translated interview with Dutch site Inside Gamer (via VG247), Guillemot talked about the console transition. "Previously, we developed first games on the Xbox 360 and which were then translated into the PS3. It took a lot of time and money to make that port," he said. "Now we develop from the PC and which versions are translated into a console like the PlayStation 4." Chalk up the odd grammar to the translation, but the message is clear.

He says the company expects "fewer problems with porting games to the PS4 than the PS3, which had a completely different infrastructure. It is now easier." That's in line with Sony's own specs for the PS4, which are much more aligned with PCs than the PlayStation 3 was. Developing for the PC as the lead may also hit two birds with one stone for Ubisoft, as it recently expressed interest in improving its relationship with PC players.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 27, 2013 2:15 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Watch Dogs' lead platform is PC.

    Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says the company is developing on PC first and then porting to consoles like the PlayStation 4, citing Watch Dogs as an example of the strategy.

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      February 27, 2013 2:21 PM

      Does this mean that PC versions will be released on the same day as the console versions?

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      February 27, 2013 2:27 PM

      just like Borderlands!

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      February 27, 2013 2:44 PM

      sounds good to me

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      February 27, 2013 2:47 PM

      We've heard this one before, right? LOL

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      February 27, 2013 3:15 PM

      It makes sense. New consoles come with a degree of uncertainty. Developers don't know when they will release or how many units they will sell. Easier to port from the PC.

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      February 27, 2013 3:18 PM

      "Developing on PC" doesn't really mean anything, since games are coded on PC.

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        February 27, 2013 3:23 PM

        and developed to the lowest common denominator (lowest spec platform they are delivering to).

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        February 27, 2013 4:38 PM

        Yeah consoles don't really have photoshop, maya or max.

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      February 27, 2013 3:21 PM

      Who wants to hit two birds with a stone? Kill maybe?

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      February 27, 2013 3:35 PM

      riiiiight....

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      February 27, 2013 4:27 PM

      Likely this is to promote their Uplay platform to which it will likely be exclusive to. Expect AC4 to be released in the same manner.

      That said, if they want people to get a warm reception for the distribution platform, their ports will likely be up to standard.

      Getting a piece of the digital distribution marketplace pie from 3rd party sales would likely be more profitable than the worries of PC piracy or time lost to making proper ports to the platform.

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      February 27, 2013 7:22 PM

      Awesome! Watch Dogs looks like a definite purchase for me. I am excite!

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      February 28, 2013 7:26 AM

      As a PC player I really don't care if my game was developed on PC or a port of a console. My problem has always been poor support/development of the PC port itself. Selling me a $60 title with no keymapping, no mouse sensitivity adjustment, 30 FPS cap, uncomfortably low FOV that can not be adjusted, and other random annoyances (small distant detail draw, ect). It makes me really feel like publishers are saying "Here's a $60 game with barely any support for your computer. Don't complain about it either. You should be grateful now give me your money or I will blame piracy for low sales and never develope on PCs again!"

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      February 28, 2013 7:40 AM

      Only on uPlay!

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      February 28, 2013 10:24 AM

      uplay can go to hell

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