Firaxis Explains Why XCOM 2 Had to be PC Exclusive

[UberPubert]

It's worth remembering that it was a surprise XCOM got a console release in the first place considering it's a Firaxis game. The only other console releases out of their entire game history they ever put out were 2 Civ ports. Much as it sucks for console XCOM fans, this is less of an abandonment and more like a return to status quo.

This is very true.

No long-time XCOM fan is getting shafted by the decision to make the game PC exclusive and there's various reasons beyond technical performance for doing so, not the least of which being allowing for a more complex interface for both the tactical map and the geoscape management than what can be comfortably mapped to the controls of a gamepad, something older fans of the series can appreciate.

Apologies to console folks who feel like they got burned but, honestly? You should get a PC anyway, the best tactics games out there are PC exclusive as well; there's a lot more to the genre than new XCOM.

 

[Doom972]

That sucks for PS4 and X-Box One users. Perhaps after they release the game they can then port it to the consoles.

Or they could just spend an extra $200 above what a console costs, and buy a PC that is more than 3 times as powerful. That's what, a console and 2 games?

There won't be a need for that either probably. I'm willing to bet that everyone who owns a console already owns a PC as well. It might just require an upgrade.

 

[Aerosteam]

My former fellow console peasants, keep in mind that we were lucky to even get the first game on consoles.

That being said, now that I have a gaming PC I'm happy I don't have to worry about console parity.

 

[Oly J]

this basically makes sense to me, don't necessarily like it but there ya go, I have Enemy Unknown on PS3 and even then, it's blatantly a PC game built for a PC interface, now, I have a PC these days so this news is no skin off my back, so I'll probably still get it, but I do know people who will be disappointed by this news

 

[Rastrelly]

Question. Can console gamers now become as whiny complain as much as PC gamers that they got screwed? Or are they just being told to not "buy an idiot-box next time"?

Er, no. They have to repeat this situation for about 200 more times during next 10 years or so, and THEN begin to whine.

 

[Cartographer]

God, with all the whining, you'd think that gaming wasn't an entitlement but rather was a privilege that you had to work for or something...

 

[Darth Rosenberg]

PC gamers staying classy, I see.

There's not a lot I can say, though, other than repeat that XCOM:EW was one of my favourite games of last gen, and it completely sucks I won't be enjoying the sequel. 'Sticking to what you know' is fair enough, I suppose, but it's also deeply unambitious and slightly disingenuous when considering the platforms that EU/EW appeared on, successfully. And, as others have stated, the mention of graphical fidelity seems a bit ridiculous - on an XCOM? Really? Pft, don't think so, unless the end result is some kind of benchmark for the [sub]genre.

If I ever do ever get a PC that can run new games (highly unlikely, in the near future), I hope they at least implement excellent controller support, because XCOM:EW worked so damn well with a pad.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Anyone else worried they're punching above their weight class here? Either that or they're trying to rush it out and are cutting the fat to save time.

Either way, I'll wait for general consensus before buying it.

PS. Woah, didn't realise people were still salty about the whole exclusive crap. Shit happens.

 

[CrystalShadow]

I think there a little more then technical powerful enough.

on what basis? PC's a pretty high up there, in performance terms, and the stuff they're talking about implementing is nothing to sneeze at in terms of the kind of raw performance it requires.

OK, if they have any common sense they'll figure out how to get this running on fairly old PC's, in which case a console port is going to be reasonably easy on a technical level...

But if they are really pushing the envelope on PC... I'm sorry. Consoles are likely to struggle.

 

[Abomination]

XCOM sold better on Steam than all consoles combined. Never mind other PC sales.

http://forums.2k.com/showthread.php?2132381-Why-No-XCOM-2-for-Consoles

Between the cost to port, cost to crush bugs, cost to give Microsoft/Sony their cut, compromises that have to be made to the UI, and the inability to mod, I wonder why they would develop for console. It's hardly as though the console ports are never coming, they'll just take a while.

And this is the big reason. Money talks. What was the cost of production:net revenue for consoles? Knowing that would put the whole debacle to bed.

XCom has always been a PC game and one must admit the console nature of it caused systems to be... simplistic compared to its predecessors.

 

[SilverUchiha]

I'm actually a little bummed out by the news. I only play on PC anyway, but Enemy Unknown was very comfortable with a controller and I just liked it better than the mouse & keyboard approach. If it's being optimized for M&K, then I guess I'm fine. But I will miss the convenience the controller has been with this game in XCOM 2.

 

[Mikeybb]

Well, I think this bodes well.

Like I said in the other thread, it felt like the term 'exclusive' was being used here in a non committal way, in that they were confirming the PC release, but as a debut and not wanting to state unequivocally that they are releasing on console or IoS.

All that said, the reason I think this is a good sign is that after a time on pc, the porting to the consoles will be something they could do to extend revenue from the release.

I'm actually a little bummed out by the news. I only play on PC anyway, but Enemy Unknown was very comfortable with a controller and I just liked it better than the mouse & keyboard approach. If it's being optimized for M&K, then I guess I'm fine. But I will miss the convenience the controller has been with this game in XCOM 2.

They could test bed controller schemes on the pc release for those who like the big tv and couch method of playing games, making that aspect of the transition even less of an issue (which I doubt it would be given they got the controls working nicely for the previous version).

A solid release on PC followed by a demonstrable desire for the release on consoles could be all that's needed.
I hope it happens, not just for the company and the revenue it'll bring, but for the gamers who do love this style of game and franchise.
They deserve a chance to join in the fun.

 

[DerangedHobo]

to be a PC exclusive

HA, MY REVENGE!

But seriously, I don't even feel bad. The amount of games I have missed out on because "muh exclusives". Not that making a bunch of PC exclusives helps or changes anything, mind you, but I'll gloat just a bit over this.

Perhaps after they release the game they can then port it to the consoles.

Oh, sweet sweet irony.

 

[shrekfan246]

This puts PC gaming back on the table for my gaming needs. I've never been comfortable gaming on a PC in any real way (technical, exclusives, and my friends in real life I play with) but my love of XCOM bordered on crazy levels.

Was it truly better to have loved and lost or would I be happier having never loved at all....?

The only way to get more comfortable with it is to spend more time with it.

OT: As long as my ancient PC will be able to play it, I'll be fine. Hopefully it'll get a port eventually for the people who don't want to make the jump to PC gaming (though seriously, unless you're just scared by the thought of having more control over everything, in this day of constant installations and software updates PC offers all of the advantages of consoles and then some -- you can set up basically any controller to play on PC and most games these days have native support for Xbox pads, which non-Xbox pads can typically emulate, you can actually troubleshoot problems that happen and get more of an answer than "did you try turning it off and on again?", most PCs these days even come with HDMI ports so you can just hook it up to your TV if you're more comfortable that way).

 

[Evonisia]

So:
Release the game, let the PC crowd gush over it and figure out all the tactics.
Release the game on consoles a few months later, because your reasons for ignoring them are bullshit.

 

[Zeljkia the Orc]

Good. I picked up Xcom: EU during a sale for my old 360 and the controls were horrible. Now that they just have to focus on one market (and best market), Xcom 2 should be amazing.

SHOULD be, doesn't mean it will.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

This puts PC gaming back on the table for my gaming needs. I've never been comfortable gaming on a PC in any real way (technical, exclusives, and my friends in real life I play with) but my love of XCOM bordered on crazy levels.

Was it truly better to have loved and lost or would I be happier having never loved at all....?

Spoiler: one of us! one of us!

but really, this *should* be a great game to hop onto PC gaming for!

Spoiler: not to mention the mods that will be made for this game

#onceyougopcyounevergoback

 

[Nazulu]

Perfectly acceptable as always. If you're uncomfortable making something for a certain platform then you shouldn't be forced, and you can always work on it after of course.

 

[Ravenbom]

I can't believe that X-Com Enemy Within/Unknown came out on consoles at all.


I don't have a WiiU but it's games like this that make me think about all the wasted potential of having a controller attached to a large tablet.
Like I said, I never bought a WiiU but I was always hoping that RPGs with unwieldy inventory systems like The Witcher and Strategy RPGs and RTS's would have a shot at piercing the console market with the WiiU.
(Yes, I know it's underpowered, but Witcher 3 aside, good RPGs and RTSs don't rely on uber specs)

I'm of the minority that wants everyone to have a chance to enjoy everything possible. Plus as a plain tech nerd, I really want to see people using existing tech in ways that we haven't seen yet.

 

[fix-the-spade]

I think there a little more then technical powerful enough.

The real problem is this: Both Microsoft and Sony demand five and six figure sums to put patches through their respective distribution systems. Since post release patching is a fact of life, you either take the Valve route and abandon console games immediately after release, or you sink most of your sales revenue straight back into the platform.

For small and medium scale releases that simply not a viable strategy anymore.

As for the power issue, they're both running on downclocked and down specced versions of mid-low range graphics cards from early 2012. Available processing is a serious issue for both, but especially the Xbone, see the extreme lack of 1080p/60fps in releases for either of them.