Ubisoft: Watch Dogs is leading on next-gen/PC, then being ported to current-gen

[Moz La Punk]

In an interview with a Dutch game website, Ubisoft's boss Yves Guillemot tells more about the development of Watch Dogs.

It appears that the next-gen and PC-version is developed first, and after that is finished, they'll be looking at how to put it on X360 and PS3.

The quote: "The team is developing it on high end pc's and next gen, after that other teams are looking how they can make it fit for the older generation. So the first approach is to see how they can take full advantage of the next gen consoles."

Interview here (in Dutch).

Other interesting tidbits:
- "Maybe we can show both versions (of Watch Dogs) at E3"
- Rainbow Six: Patriots still in development! "A good team is working on it and they have good ideas. It costs us some time to figure it out and to bring out the right feeling in the game."
- "We're still working on some Vita-games. I can't announce anything yet, but it's coming. The Vita isn't dead to us yet."

 

[cripterion]

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen for current gen consoles then.

 

[panty]

Thanks for letting me know. I will now skip the current-gen versions and wait for the PS4 version.

 

[TedNindo]

Notice how WiiU's version is in development.

 

[Biggzy]

This could be a blood bath for current-gen consoles.

 

[Mpl90]

...Wait.
This + Wii U version already running means that...the Wii U version is a downscaled next-gen one?

 

[miksar]

So they already started porting it on Wii U but not on PS360 that will account for most revenue? Interesting. I also love the tidbit about how Vita is not "yet" dead.

 

[Chittagong]

bwhahahaha


Call of Duty Declassified comes to mind from this timeline

 

[noffles]

Thanks for letting me know. I will now skip the current-gen versions and wait for the PS4 version.

From the sounds of it, you'll be waiting for the current gen versions.

 

[Feature]

Notice how WiiU's version is in development.

Probably already finished because of the fast texture work, removal of features and just the overal low standards of the platform.

 

[chandoog]

So they already started porting it on Wii U but not on PS360 that will account for most revenue? Interesting.

They will simply port it from the WiiU, which I imagine would be a much less time consuming thing to do than downsample PS4 code.

 

[thuway]

Sub HD ports here we come!

 

[cripterion]

I still take this as good news for the game, at least we know it won't be limited by the PS3/360.

 

[Router]

Nice to know current gen platform owners will have games to look forward to in 2015.

 

[rvy]

This is gonna be good. 15fps, here we go.

 

[Alexios]

Then how did they in the other interview mention what exact differences there will be, like wind and AI, if they've not started?

Anyway, this means far shorter dev time for PS360 so people will use a shoddy port to show the generational gap. If that happens a somewhat fairer comparison would be other current open world games like AC2, Sleeping Dogs, JC2, Crackdown 2.

 

[UrbanRats]

I still take this as good news for the game, at least we know it won't be limited by the PS3/360.

Yup.
I'm getting this on PC.

Of course, hopefully they'll do a decent job downporting it, but after AC3, i wouldn't be so sure.

 

[madmackem]

Good i now know which machine im getting this on.

 

[Aostia]

...Wait.
This + Wii U version already running means that...the Wii U version is a downscaled next-gen one?

Hopefully a native version...?

 

[Squire]

So they already started porting it on Wii U but not on PS360 that will account for most revenue? Interesting. I also love the tidbit about how Vita is not "yet" dead.

Pitifully foolish, more like.

 

[Seance]

"The team is developing it on high end pc's and next gen, after that other teams are looking how they can make it fit for the older generation. So the first approach is to see how they can take full advantage of the next gen consoles."

Glad to hear it. Downport to the old gen after, I want Watch Dogs to be looking it's best.

 

[MormaPope]

This sounds like one of the dumbest financial moves ever, release a game for much smaller user bases first and then port it to past gen consoles that have much larger user bases later?

 

[- J - D -]

Kind of a foolhardy thing to reveal about it, no?

 

[Inkblot]

Sub HD ports here we come!

I wonder if it could run at 240p

 

[Erethian]

Hopefully a native version...?

A lot of game development starts on a PC-based version of the title before it's ported over to the consoles. It's how MT Framework games are developed, and Platinum Games uses a similar system as well. Actually a pretty good way of doing multiplatform development.

 

[Number45]

Didn't this happen with the first current gen Splinter Cell game, and the previous generation version actually turned out to be the better game? Doesn't sound like that's going to happen here (because if memory serves they were farmed out to different studios (Montreal/Shanghai?)), but interesting that it's Ubi again.

 

[Massa]

bwhahahaha


Call of Duty Declassified comes to mind from this timeline

Except this time the game will already be done. They'll have months to remove and downscale things until it runs at an acceptable framerate (well, 20-25fps).

 

[tali'zorah84]

I'm thinking of picking up the Wii U or PS4 version(s), I think that Watch_Dogs would work terrific with a ZombiU-like UI on the GamePad.

I wonder if the Wii U version will be closer to the other versions if it's actually in development-

 

[Lord Phol]

Glad to hear it's not being ported from current to next gen. Perhaps it might even end up running well on the PS4.

 

[Sandfox]

- "We're still working on some Vita-games. I can't announce anything yet, but it's coming. The Vita isn't dead to us yet."

AC Vita 2 incoming?

 

[Superflat]

Yikes. So this means at this time they don't even know how much they have to cut down on to make it run on current gen?

 

[MormaPope]

Sort of coincidental or ironic how they delayed a next gen game (Rayman Legends for Wii-U) to release it on Xbox 360/PS3 and then now they're releasing Watch Dogs for the Wii-U and other next gen consoles before releasing the current gen versions.

Ubisoft is acting goofy as hell.

 

[Aostia]

A lot of game development starts on a PC-based version of the title before it's ported over to the consoles. It's how MT Framework games are developed, and Platinum Games uses a similar system as well. Actually a pretty good way of doing multiplatform development.

you are right.
the fact that they already have the game running on the Wii U, and that they think that the gamepad will be a perfect fit for the hacking device make me hope for a good wii u version.

 

[TheDrowningMan]

Porting from Wii U won't be difficult and they'll release on time. Better to use that as the meta-lead for any three-way game as you can add a few bells and whistles beyond the PS3/360 and then port across without too much hassle.

 

[StuBurns]

Ubisoft already have a mouth too big for their stomachs, this is crazy talk.

 

[UrbanRats]

This sounds like one of the dumbest financial moves ever, release a game for much smaller user bases first and then port it to past gen consoles that have much larger user bases later?

Ubisoft loves to push new HW brah.
Keep up the fight, Ubisoft!

 

[Jasper Avenue]

This is going to look horrible on current gen consoles. Sub HD, 25 fps for sure.

 

[MormaPope]

Ubisoft loves to push new HW brah.
Keep up the fight, Ubisoft!

They shouldn't even make a 360/PS3 version then.

 

[Spiegel]

I don't see how this:

"The team is developing it on high end pc's and next gen, after that other teams are looking how they can make it fit for the older generation. So the first approach is to see how they can take full advantage of the next gen consoles."

means this:

Development PS3/360-version Watch Dogs not started yet

Am I missing something?

Because that's exactly what they are doing with the WiiU. Montreal develops the game and Bucarest try to make it fit for the WiiU

 

[Corto]

At least they are warning us in advance.

 

[Rhindle]

This sounds like one of the dumbest financial moves ever, release a game for much smaller user bases first and then port it to past gen consoles that have much larger user bases later?

By that logic everyone should still be making PS2 games.

The main user base (i.e. guys who pay $60 for new games at launch) will switch to PS4/Durango VERY quickly. I'd expect that by early 2014 next gen sales of new full price games will exceed 360/PS3 sales.

 

[Gacha-pin]

But but PC audiences get the game last, right?

 

[MormaPope]

By that logic everyone should still be making PS2 games.

The main user base (i.e. guys who pay $60 for new games at launch) will switch to PS4/720 VERY quickly. I'd expect that by early 2014 next gen sales of new full price games will exceed 360/PS3 sales.

That's a very bold statement, one I wouldn't put a lot of confidence in.

 

[brain_stew]

If you thought the tearing in Assassin's Creed was bad...........

 

[StuBurns]

By that logic everyone should still be making PS2 games.

The main user base (i.e. guys who pay $60 for new games at launch) will switch to PS4/Durango VERY quickly. I'd expect that by early 2014 next gen sales of new full price games will exceed 360/PS3 sales.

CoD sells like twenty million full price, AssCreed sells about eight, Sony and MS will be very lucky if they have a combined install base of 8 million early 2014, let alone have games selling in with a one hundred percent tie ratio.

 

[Nibel]

So Ubisoft Bukarest has the game up and running for Wii U, but they didn't start to develop the versions for the consoles with the biggest userbases?

Wat

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

So much for Wii U version being a 360 game.

 

[Oblivion]

Ubisoft: 'Development PS3/360-version Watch Dogs not started yet'

Wait, what? Why is such a thing even being discussed to begin with?

edit: Double wait, what?! There's a Wii-U version actually in development right now?! o_0

 

[Rhindle]

That's a very bold statement, one I wouldn't put a lot of confidence in.

Not at all. Go look at last gen's crossover. 3rd parties moved almost all new franchise development to 360 after November 2005, and had transitioned completely by the time PS3 launched in 2006.

CoD sells like twenty million full price, AssCreed sells about eight, Sony and MS will be very lucky if they have a combined install base of 8 million early 2014, let alone have games selling in with a one hundred percent tie ratio.

I'm referring to new franchise development. COD//Madden/FIFA etc. will continue to release on PS360 for a few years.

 

[MormaPope]

Good news from this is a Rainbow Six sequel still exists.

Not at all. Go look at last gen's crossover. 3rd parties moved almost all new franchise development to 360 after November 2005, and had transitioned completely by the time PS3 launched in 2006.

2013 is a very different landscape videogame wise than 2005.