Respawn’s TitanFall is – PC aside – exclusive to Xbox consoles. That means the game will appear on Xbox 360 and Xbox One, but won’t appear on PlayStation 3 or 4.
Why? Well, it’s apparently because of the cloud system that Microsoft has been so hotly touting – despite there being no such flexibility for the 360 and Sony themselves claiming that the PS4 can use cloud computing if needed.
The game was initially intended for all platforms, according to a recent interview [via], but Microsoft’s extensive server farms allowed the developers “to think of the game a little differently” with Vince Zampella saying it was “the perfect solution”.
TitanFall is Respawn’s first game.
Kris Lipscombe
The difference between the Xbox One and the PS4 in terms of cloud computing is that Microsoft appear to be providing the cloud architecture for developers and publishers to work with, whereas Sony aren’t. Although the PS4 can work with the cloud, as can the PS3 or pretty much any device with an internet connection, the developers would need to select a provider and build up their own service from scratch. While that’s certainly doable, and I imagine many publishers run their servers for the current gen in virtual environments that would probably be described as cloud services, Microsoft do seem to be clearing the way a bit and making things easier for devs in that regard.
If, on top of that, Microsoft are providing free/subsidised access to their Azure cloud service if you’re building a game (or maybe only if you’re building an exclusive) along with technical support then I can understand how using their infrastructure may be a draw.
teflon
Additionally, there is absolutely nothing stopping Microsoft from letting selected 360 games connect to the Azure cloud which they’ve built.
What Azure does is mean that there are basically free dedicated servers fo all online games, and hopefully also ensure that there’s the flexibility to scale these up and down over the lifetime of an online game.
With such multipurpose hardware, which can be turned to many functions, we might also see a lengthening of the time which a game has server support. No more sunsetting online functionality… Or at least not until Microsoft decide they want to end Azure support for the X1…
Kennykazey
Bollocks.
double-o-dave
Brilliant. I like the fact that Kris’ comment above yours is 2 paragraphs long of how he interprets his technical opinion of how the cloud could possibly work to their advantage and then we have your one word review… simply “bollocks” lol
skibadee
kris it is just not ready for primtime Sony no that.
hol
I’m not sure I’m that bothered frankly? It’s just CoD with a mech thrown in!
jimmy-google
Kind of what I thought, there were a lot of other games I was more interested in.
Looks like it will be out around the same time as Second Son which I’d rather play anyway.
Eldave0
Personally this was the best game I saw at E3 by a long way (Bf4 and The Division were great too). COD’s unmatched online pacing but on a much larger scale with BOTs and Mechs. Sign me up! Itching to play this one with some mates.
double-o-dave
You mean to say some other people are gonna buy an Xbox Juan as well as you? ;)
Eldave0
*snigger* :-P A few mates and I ordered our X1’s earlier this week so that brings Microsoft’s pre-order count up to 7 :-D
double-o-dave
Whether they reach double figures or not will remain to be seen.
Eldave0
Lol, in all serious I think it will sell just fine. Those more “clued in” will probably go PS4 – as I’ve said in other articles, were it not for the fact my mates are going X1 I would have gone PS4 too – but I just can’t see the X1 selling badly somehow. One thing is for sure, the PS4 is going to offer some stiff competition.
double-o-dave
“One thing is for sure, the PS4 is going to offer some stiff competition”.
You do realise its a blu-ray player it possesses and not a blue pill? :)
Eldave0
;-) maybe its both?
jimmy-google
I’ve already seem Respawn quoted elsewhere saying Titanfall might still come to PS4.
MS have paid for a time period and for them to say nice things about XBO.
I remember when the PS2 wasn’t getting Resident Evil games, they all ended up on the PS2 eventually. You sell more consoles you get the games.
gazzagb
I bet just like Sim City, someone will discover that it’s sending barely any data to the cloud.
Voolar
…but Microsoft’s extensive bank balance allowed the developers “to think of the game a little differently” with Vince Zampella saying it was “the perfect solution”.
There you go – fixed it for you.
Fruitbat1919
I’m far more interested in Dead Rising. I’ve no doubt that the PS4 has enough shooters planned for myself.
Microsoft may be using those 3000 servers for world domination!! The way I see it though, is that I can make a perfectly fine cup of coffee at home….no need to always use Starbucks…..
The Von Braun
Must resist urge to go with MS has it’s head in the clouds angle…
@Kris:Huge thanks for pointing out something i was wondering about (differences between MS cloud services and that of others), looking at what you’ve said, i would assume that MS are indeed at the very least offering developers very heavily subsidised access to it’s cloud, as they seem to be clinging to it as THE factor that can make up on hardware differences between Xbox One and PS4 and something that only they have the reources in place to ‘make it work’.
Don’t think people can cuss too loudly though, this generation saw PS3 benifit in cases from Sony offering things like keyboard and mouse support, MODS on things like Unreal T.that you did’nt see on 360, Portal 2 benifited from Steam or something did it not? (not a Portal fan, but recal much crowing of PS3 version having edge over 360 version due to some technical gubbins), so next gen MS woo-ing developers with things they have in place.
As always people, you pays yer money, takes yer choice.
TSBonyman
Everytime i hear about how important the cloud is, i wonder just how under-powered the xbox one might be.