Epic Adamant About UT3 Xbox 360 Mod Support

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Unreal series creator and developer Epic Games is still hoping to allow user-created content and mods in the upcoming Xbox 360 edition of Unreal Tournament 3 (preview).

During Sony's E3 press conference, the company revealed that the PlayStation 3 would be the only console to receive Epic's highly anticipated entry in the multiplayer-oriented shooter franchise this year. Both the PlayStation 3 and the PC version--also due this fall--will allow players to download and utilize user-created content, which can theoretically range from new maps to entirely new modes and games.

"We didn't want to port it to PS3 and lose all the awesome things about the PC version," Epic producer Tanya Jessen told Shacknews at E3. However, Microsoft's stricter policies regarding the execution of uncertified content present difficulties in doing the same on Xbox 360

"That's part of the reason we announced we were shipping the game on PC and PS3 this Fall, but we don't have a date for the Xbox 360 version," Epic VP Mark Rein told CVG. "It'll be some time after the new year. Part of that is because we haven't been able to figure out just how we're going to do the mods. And Microsoft's got a very busy Christmas schedule."

"We just couldn't get enough attention from [Microsoft] to solve that problem," Rein continued, noting that the one possible solution would involve submitting the various user-created mods through Microsoft's certification process and placing them on the Xbox Live Marketplace. "That's the worse case scenario. Hopefully between now and whenever it is we ship on Xbox 360, we figure out a user-managed way to do it."

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 2, 2007 10:20 AM

    it's cool they want to support mods on the 360, but i just don't see MS giving in.
    it would be great if the we could play the custom gears of war stuff people will be making for the PC version too :(

    • reply
      August 2, 2007 10:23 AM

      I don't see it happening either. I give Epic huge respect for trying to stick to their guns, but I've heard from a lot of devs that MS just stonewalls people on stuff like this.

      • reply
        August 2, 2007 10:41 AM

        Do you know the reasoning (other than the obvious control)? I think mods add significantly to the longevity of many PC games, not to mention it creates a fantastic training ground for new, amateur talent. The biggest problems with mods is that casual users don't know where to find them or that they even exist, so if players could get them from the marketplace for free I think it could be huge.

      • reply
        August 2, 2007 12:18 PM

        Maybe they'll think about that again if Epic were to put out a great game for PS3 only.

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