PS4 & Xbone now using x86/64 architecture

[Hawkeye 131]

So now that Microsoft has revealed the Xbone and despite all the fallout that's occurred over the last few days regarding the daily online DRM check and MS trying to tackle the used game market I think I overlooked a crucial fact that both the PS4 & Xbox One are now using the same type (x86/64), system architecture.

That being said I am by no means a computer expert however, isn't x86/64 the same type of system architecture as today's modern PC's operating systems?

Keeping that in mind isn't this decision kind of a double edged sword? What I mean is that now from a developers point of view won't it be easier and cheaper to develop games for both consoles and the PC however, is there any real point to making any of your titles exclusive to any one particular platform when they're all using the same type of system architecture?

I'm just wondering for instance that if I'm working at BioWare (for example), or any other studio for that matter on Dragon Age 3 (for example), or any other next-gen game for that matter what incentive do I have to keep that game exclusive to any one platform?

Thoughts?

-Hawk

 

[Da Orky Man]

x86/64 are indeed the standard architectures used by laptops and desktops nowadays, with x86 being 32-bit and x64 being 64-bit. The point of exclusives is basically this:

Lets say that Microsoft want a new, hardcore, exclusive My Little Pony game on the Xbone. They would approach the devs/publishers of MLP games and say "Hey, if you make 'My Little Pony: Call of Equestria' exclusive to the Xbone, we'll give you a crapload of money/promotion/general free stuff." Then, if the MLP publishers decide that whatever Microsoft is offering is worth more than the extra sales from PS3/PC release, then they'll go with it. If not, then they won't.

 

[DoPo]

Just because they use the same architecture does not mean they are interchangeable. It's easier to port, yes, and some things can more easily operate on all platforms, but even PCs don't have all software freely swappable between Windows, OS X, Linux, and Unix. Heck, even different versions of these may get different codebases (XP/7, or Debian/Ubuntu, etc). So, yes, exclusivity can still be around.