14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft has talked a bit about cross-generation games, i.e. titles that appear both on current platforms, like PS3 or Xbox 360, but also on new ones, like PS4 or Xbox One, confirming that the mediocre review scores are just because the development team didn't want to make the titles too different.
The PS4 and Xbox One are being rolled out by Sony and Microsoft around the world as we speak, and alongside them many cross-gen games are launching, besides the traditional exclusive titles.
Ubisoft is responsible for quite a few of them, chief among which being Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.
The company's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tony Key, has talked with GamesIndustry about cross-gen games and how their reviews on the next-gen platforms aren't always that impressive.
"Right now, all publishers are transitioning their development resources," he explained. "For a game like Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, most of the sales are still going to be on current generation platforms. We can't make a version for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One that's so wildly different that we can't market them together."
"So, for now, developers and designers are focused on making a game that works really well on all of the systems - but as we transition resources to the next gen, it's going to be more difficult to do that because the power of these machines is going to allow so much more creativity."
Key also discussed the delay of another eagerly awaited cross-gen game, Watch Dogs, confirming that Ubisoft wants to take time and make sure the title is a great start for a new franchise.
"It's heartbreaking to be so coveted for launch and not be able to deliver it at launch, but from a business perspective, it's not a difficult decision to make," he said. "Watch Dogs is designed to be a long-term brand for Ubisoft. We won't launch it until we know it's equaling the vision it can achieve. ... We're playing the long game – and as a company, we know how important it is to get it right."
Ubisoft will continue to focus on all platforms for the time being, according to a previous statement from CEO Yves Guillemot.